Located at the university’s Kensington campus in Sydney, the department building is slated to become the leading research facility in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Our partnership with UNSW allows us to work collaboratively to provide the best outcome for the university, their lecturers, researchers and students,” Brookfield Multiplex NSW managing director David Ghannoum said.

“We have a strong knowledge about working in a living campus environment and have delivered numerous buildings that strengthen the teaching and learning experience through design.”

Covering 23,500 square metres of space over nine levels, the building will feature specially designed suites capable of housing highly sensitive research equipment.

The building will also comprise teaching and learning spaces, research areas and electron microscopy suite laboratories.

With preparatory works underway, completion is expected by April 2015, with the facility scheduled to be fully operational later the same year.