The original athlete accommodation block at the Australian Institute of Sport will be demolished to make way for a new world-class High Performance Testing and Training Centre as part of a major redevelopment of the Canberra campus.

Preparations are underway to break ground on the new centre, one of three facilities being delivered under the Australian Government-funded AIS Podium Project — a $249.7 million rejuvenation of the AIS aimed at supporting athletes on the road to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.

The redevelopment will see the removal of the 40-year-old Athletes’ Village, which has housed Australia’s Olympians, Paralympians and Commonwealth Games athletes since October 1985. Over more than four decades, the accommodation has been home to high-profile athletes including basketballer Patty Mills, wheelchair racer Louise Sauvage and swimmer Michael Klim.

Australian Sports Commission chief executive Kieren Perkins OAM said the existing accommodation no longer met the needs of modern high-performance athletes.

“This is a significant step as we begin the biggest upgrade of the AIS since it was built more than 40 years ago,” Mr Perkins said.

“While the demolition of the Athletes’ Village will temporarily reduce bed numbers at the Canberra campus, the three new world-class buildings will ensure our athletes have access to the best testing, training and accommodation not only in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032, but for generations to come.”

The High Performance Testing and Training Centre will include state-of-the-art equipment to support athlete development, alongside a large indoor sport dome. A new multi-level, fully accessible athlete residence will also be built as part of the redevelopment.

Mr Perkins said the works would coincide with other new facilities coming online at the AIS, including an environmental chamber and an altitude living facility.

“This work coincides with a new environmental chamber and an altitude living facility also coming online to ensure our athletes have access to world-class facilities on their doorstep,” he said.

Demolition of the Athletes’ Village is expected to begin in June. During construction, both short- and long-stay athletes will be accommodated in the AIS Residence of Champions. Work on the new accommodation facility is due to begin later this year.