Two of the University of Canterbury's key building projects have been set back into next year, but the Vice Chancellor says they'll make do.

The new $200 million Rutherford Regional Science and Innovation Centre, and the new Rehua Education centre were meant to be ready for teaching this year.

The University's Council met yesterday and staff were informed the buildings won't be open until 2018 because of delays with landscaping, external facades and airflow systems.

Vice Chancellor Dr Rod Carr is disappointed but he's confident they'll work around it.

"While we are going to have to reschedule a few things we haven't lost any of our capacity to deliver research and teaching to students this year," he said.