Construction on the new hospital is expected to start early next year and Mr Corbell will on Monday release the reference design showing the size and layout of the new hospital for public feedback.

Mr Corbell said that as a sub-acute hospital, the facility would provide a range of rehabilitation services and treat mental health conditions as well as providing targeted services and care for older Canberrans.

The hospital will feature sensory areas for dementia patients and offer a dedicated aged care assessment team and residential aged care specialist.

"We need to provide a effective purpose-built facility that can meet the needs for people with dementia, the other healthcare challenges associated with an ageing population and these are overwhelmingly in areas such as rehabilitation, supportive care," Mr Corbell said.

The hospital will include a research centre for academics and students from the University of Canberra, unit-style mental health accommodation, including shared kitchen and dining facilities as well as courses to help patients who want to work or drive again.

It will also feature an innovative courtyard to assist patients with rehabilitation.

"The hospital will offer a more home-like environment with clinical focus on giving patients their independence back through things like increased physical activity in the gym or hydrotherapy pool, learning new life skills or simply by being able to eat with others in a dining room," Mr Corbell said.

An undisclosed sum for the new hospital was included in last year's ACT budget but Mr Corbell has now revealed the project is expected to cost more than $100 million.

"The final cost will be determined through a market process but we certainly expect the project to be well over $100 million. We won't be speculating on the exact figure ahead of the competitive process we're about to enter into with the market for the delivery of the facility," he said.

Mr Corbell said the new hospital would help Canberra Hospital perform its role as an emergency, trauma and acute care facility for the territory.

"It's about spreading the load for our healthcare system, allowing Canberra Hospital to do the emergency trauma and acute care work and providing a dedicated facility for mental health, dementia, rehabilitation, residential aged care needs for Canberrans," he said.

"The University of Canberra public hospital will provide... the dedicated sub-acute facility we need for this city and by linking it with the university, we will also see a strong combination of skills and experience coming from their specialised healthcare training activity."

Mr Corbell said the reference design would now be released for public feedback and had followed "detailed" consultation with healthcare consumer groups and staff as part of planning for the hospital.

"The reference design is the base design that will be used to proceed to the market for the contracting and tendering of the construction project so it outlines the territory's requirements and specifications for the delivery of the hospital," he said.

"It will be used to inform the final bids from the private sector for construction and operation of the facility."

Mr Corbel said it was anticipated once consultation was considered, a final design would be completed later this year.

Information sessions will be held from 7.30pm to 8.30pm on March 31 at the University of Canberra and on April 8 at Canberra Hospital. The reference design can be viewed at health.act.gov.au.