After repeated delays, the University of Canterbury's Ernest Rutherford building has opened to fireworks.

From its explosion-proof room to the glacier creation station, the University of Canterbury's new $155 million science building is a place to "find hope and aspiration for the future," the Prime Minister says.

Jacinda Ardern opened the Ernest Rutherford Building with fireworks on Thursday, furthering the university's redevelopment and cementing its goal of becoming a locus of world-class research and innovation.

University of Canterbury (UC) scientists were thrilled to relocate from a "smelly old basement" into purpose-built spaces, albeit more than a year later than initially planned. "I've visited 10 countries and many, many universities, and only one other place have I seen a facility of similar quality," associate professor Vladimir Golovko said.

GEORGE HEARD/STUFF Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern officially opened the facility on Thursday.

The five-storey building features 3D medical imaging, a drone room, superconduction magnets, and a machine that creates tiny clouds out of ethanol. Pipelines carry 30 different liquids and gases into specialist laboratories for 2500 students and 150 academic staff. Classes for most students begin next week.

It is the first stage of the Rutherford Regional Science and Innovation Centre (RRSIC). The second stage building, named after astronomer Beatrice Tinsely, is scheduled to replace the Von Haast building next year.

Originally budgeted at $214 million, the cost of the whole project hit $220m after accounting for fixtures, temporary accommodation, and demolition. Removing asbestos from Von Haast alone cost an extra $3m.

GEORGE HEARD/STUFF Originally budgeted at $214 million, the cost of the whole project hit $220m.

The final bill was likely to grow still, as the university is vulnerable to yet-unknown costs associated with the building's late completion by Fletcher Construction. The company's chairman Sir Ralph Norris resigned this week amid a $486m increase in its projected losses on 16 major projects including the Rutherford building.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr said he was confident the university's exposure to additional costs was "not material". Without a $260m Crown investment in UC's campus, "this would have been a weakened institution and a weakened city," he said.

On Thursday, the new building's laboratories were peppered with university scientists demonstrating their uses to some of the 200 guests at its official opening.

GEORGE HEARD/STUFF Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr said he was confident the university's exposure to additional costs was "not material".

Associate professor Steven Gieseg and Dr Robert Doesburg showed off a medical imaging technology that allowed surgeons to virtually isolate internal organs, while geological field technician Jason Harrison explained how a device that measures 64 types of precipitation would assist our understanding of the impacts of climate change.

PhD student Alex Neiman said the tools available brought concepts like particle physics alive for the undergraduates he tutored. "A lot of them have seen this stuff on YouTube and then when they see it in person it's an entirely different experience for them."

Pro-vice chancellor of the College of Science, Professor Wendy Lawson, said the opportunities provided by the centre would "enable our students to be a different kind of graduate".

"We can equip them fully for the future, not only to thrive in the modern workplace, but to tackle the important issues facing the world today ... This is the future of science and we are excited to be at its leading edge."