The last leg of a long-standing construction project at the University of Manitoba has begun.

For more than a decade, the Taché Arts Project has been underway at the university, including opening the Taché Hall Arts Complex. On Thursday, the school is announcing the "grand finale" of the multi-year construction undertaking.

“I am excited about this new space, which will be unlike any other in Winnipeg,” Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor at UM, says in a statement.

The Desautels Concert Hall is set to seat up to 409 people, and have a trio of configurations, depending on what is needed for sound and visuals with what the university says is movable towers, panels, sound-absorbing curtains and ceiling reflectors.

Desautels Concert HallThe exterior of the Desautels Concert Hall, as rendered by Cibinel Architecture. (University of Manitoba/Supplied)

Edward Jurkowski, Dean of the Desautels Faculty of Music, says this space will be important for Winnipeg as a whole.

“With state-of-the-art acoustics, adjustable proscenium, and orchestral pit, the concert hall will provide an outstanding performance experience for our students, faculty, and community musicians. It is flexible enough to accommodate a range of musical activities, from the solo performer, to our various small ensembles, to large ensembles such as our opera productions and University of Manitoba Jazz Orchestra," Jurkowski says.

“It will enable opportunities for new performances to move and inspire us, fostering connections between communities in ways only performance pieces allow. And such a transformative space would not be possible without the generosity and vision of Marcel Desautels, Gail Asper and Michael Nesbitt. Their support made this possible, and on behalf of Manitobans, I thank them," Benarroch says.

Asper says she is excited to be part of the project, encouraging others to donate.

The Taché Arts Project has a heavy price tag with large donations backing it up, including $2.5 million from Asper, $2.5 million from Dr. Michael F.B. Nesbitt, and $10 million from Marcel Desautels in previous donations.