Academy president Ben Hogan said it is seeking funding for a new $7 million purpose-built facility that would meet the needs of the growing gymnastics community in Dunedin.
The two buildings leased by the academy can be freezing in winter and boiling in summer, and were "just not fit for purpose," he said.
The academy’s location in a former industrial factory in Otaki St has experienced frequent flooding, leading to cancelled classes and damaged equipment.
Another site in Vogel St has low ceilings, tends to be cold, and is prone to leaks.
Mr Hogan said it had supportive landlords who sorted issues when they could, but the buildings were not adequate for the long-term needs of the academy.
He is proposing a new facility that could accommodate its growing membership and provide a regional hub for gymnastics in the lower South Island.
The academy has worked with the Dunedin City Council to investigate available land and preliminary investigations suggest Sidey Park in Caversham could be a good fit.
While the park is not large enough for organised outdoor sports, it could serve as an excellent location for the new facility, which would offer 2000sqm of activity space divided between a large and a small gym.
The proposed new building would include high ceilings and space for specific apparatus that the current facilities can not accommodate.
The large gym would be designed to meet the needs of competitive gymnasts, with multiple pieces of apparatus permanently fixed to the floor.
It would also have an in-floor foam pit and recessed in-floor sprung floor.
The small gym, designed to be more flexible and multipurpose, could not only serve the gymnastics community but also the wider public.
It would include kitchen and bathroom facilities as well as a large enclosed meeting room and a viewing area on the first floor.
Mr Hogan said the facility could also be used as a Civil Defence community emergency hub that could support up to 500 people in times of crisis.
If solar panels were installed on the roof it could even potentially be able to be off-grid in an emergency, Mr Hogan said.
The academy is presenting its plan for a new gymnastics facility to the Dunedin City Council to be considered in its 10-year plan.
It also plans to approach other funding bodies and the wider community to help raise funds for the project.
The non-profit organisation provides gymnastics programmes for people of all ages and skill levels.
Mr Hogan said the club had over 700 members, and this number was expected to grow.
As well as providing the opportunity to develop Olympic-level athletes, the "bread and butter" of the academy was recreational gymnastics that was supporting people to learn.
"It’s the one or two hours a week of people coming and learning those essential movement skills," Mr Hogan said.
