The University of Otago says it will delay starting major projects while the city's new hospital is being built.
University chief operating officer Stephen Willis said given likely market constraints and the university's desire for the billion-dollar hospital to be as successful as possible, it would try to avoid starting new projects in Dunedin during peak construction times.
"During that time, the university will focus on potential building projects on its campuses elsewhere in the country.''
However, Mr Willis said the university was gathering information to determine whether other construction work might begin before the main hospital build got under way.
Demolition work to clear the way for the new hospital will start early next year.
Minister of Health David Clark announced last year the hospital would be built in two stages.
The smaller of the two buildings, housing an ambulatory services centre with outpatient facilities and a day surgery, would be opened in two stages, in November 2023 and November 2024.
The completion date for the larger building, housing acute services, was unknown.
Mr Willis said university staff were involved in the design of the new hospital and had been heavily consulted with respect to the progress of the project, but the university would not be directly involved in construction.
A university spokeswoman said it was not possible to discuss building projects until they had been officially approved.
Ongoing building work at the university includes the refurbishment of the Walsh Building - the second and final stage of the $130million revamp of the dental school - and the construction of a $28 million dental school in Manukau, due to be complete in 2020.
An interim report from the mayor's task force for housing, prepared for the Dunedin City Council in November 2018, said the university was planning $700 million on capital build projects.
The same report made mention of two 350-bed buildings, one of which appears to be a replacement for Te Rangi Hiroa College hall of residence.
However, Mr Willis said the university still had no statement to make about the buildings.
"These potential projects have yet to be considered by a university council for approval. If approval is granted ... the university will announce its plans,'' he said.
