The University of Hawaii at Manoa has announced it will soon begin construction of the new Cancer Research Center of Hawaii in Kakaako.

The official ground blessing ceremony is slated for Oct. 28, with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye the keynote speaker.

According to the university, the $120 million project will usher in a new era for cancer care in the state.

It says when the building opens in early 2013, it will meet the center’s need for expanded research space to accommodate top-tier scientists being recruited to Hawaii.

The facility will feature 150,000 square feet over six floors. The university says most of the area will be devoted to research labs equipped with the latest technology.