The amalgamated Otago Polytechnic campus in Cromwell will have a doubled student capacity and look to attract more international students.
In March, the tertiary institution announced the purchase of the 9ha Bannockburn block at 25 Bannockburn Rd, which it previously leased from Contact Energy.
It plans to make this site its central hub.
The campus's other two Cromwell facilities are, for now, at Molyneux Ave and in the industrial area.
Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker said the new plan would increase the capacity of the Central Campus from 250 to 500 fulltime students.
"It will probably be over a decade. We'd be thrilled to have it done sooner, but we're trying to plan responsibly.
"Our intention is to grow the campus, and it is growing. We will set it up to be both a more appealing and suitable campus for international students.''
It would require more staff in the future, he said.
The polytechnic's preference is to have accommodation on-site.
"It was one of the things we needed to test, and we've tested that it fits comfortably on the site. We would require about 50 beds.''
There would likely be an expansion in the growing of "key crops'' such as cherries and pinot noir grapes in its orchards and vineyards, he said.
The growing of other fruit may be cut back.
"We could have one row of apples instead of 10 rows of apples, for example.
"Stone fruit is also very important, but as long as we have a representative range we're fine. We don't need to have a large orchard.''
The primary building platform will probably be on the first section visible on the approach from Cromwell.
The developments would include replacing the restaurant, now at the Molyneux Ave site, which is used for student training.
"We now have the opportunity to plan what type of restaurant we want. The current one is about 30 years old so is based on the concept of what a restaurant was back then.''
It would be designed so new buildings could be added in case of demand, he said.
Development will be staged, with the first planned for completion by the start of the 2018 school year.
The institution intended to keep all current courses, and was looking into some new additions, Mr Ker said.
He "wouldn't have a clue of cost'', but there would be a ballpark figure once the concept was locked down in six to eight weeks, he said.
