They are being installed at the campus in Fusehill Street, Carlisle, to support science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) disciplines.
The development has been partly funded by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which has invested £784,000 in the project.
A giant crane was used to begin the first floor work this week, which comprises 10 modular units in total, covering more than 575sq metres and adds to existing facilities.
Graham Haywood, director of the LEP, said: “It’s great to see this project taking tangible shape with the modular buildings going up to house state-of-the-art science laboratories.
“This is an important investment in skills development for STEM subjects within the county. The facility will help provide our regional industries with graduates with specific science skills.”
The investment will help the university offer degree-level qualifications in chemistry and biomedical science.
Sheila Pankhurst, deputy dean at the university, said: “It’s been very exciting to see the next phase of our STEM labs being lifted – quite literally – into place.
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