The Aspiring Enliven Care Centre would be built in three stages and provide 81 rest-home, hospital and dementia rooms.
A palliative care suite for hospice patients was also included.
The centre would be part of the Aspiring Lifestyle Retirement Village.
Work on stage one of the project was due to start in July and was expected to be completed in June next year.
It would include a 20-bed dementia facility, hospice suite and 19 rest-home or hospital beds.
Aspiring Village managing director Aaron Armstrong said yesterday that focus groups had revealed concerns about the lack of the type of facilities the centre would offer.
''The local rest-homes were full with waiting lists, and everyone had stories of friends or family members having to go to Dunedin or Invercargill for care,'' Mr Armstrong said.
The village was working on the aged care centre in partnership with Presbyterian Support Otago.
Chief executive Gillian Bremner said Presbyterian Support had seen how difficult it was for people when beds for loved ones could not be found close to home.
''We are looking forward to delivering the extra beds that this community clearly needs.''
Ms Bremner said the centre was also working with the Upper Clutha Hospice Trust.
Arrow International has been appointed to manage the tendering process for the 3750sq m building.
Mr Armstrong said the centre had been designed to ''feel residential and homely''.
''Our goal is to deliver high quality care in a positive, friendly and warm home-like environment.''
He expected that when stage one of the centre was in use, it would employ 35-40 staff, including registered nurses, caregivers and support staff.
At a glance
• 3 stages of development
• 81 beds in complex
• 39 beds in stage 1 (complete June 2016)
• 3750sq m size of hospital
• $15m cost
• 30 aged care beds in Wanaka at present
