When & Where
The Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center (Bakke) is the second building project of the master plan and the third project overall. The building is named for lead donors Jim (’77) and Sue Bakke.
The Bakke (bah-kee) Center features spaces dedicated to supporting wellbeing services (such as the Wolf Teaching kitchen, restorative studios, and rooms for massage therapy, peer wellness coaching, and meditation), as well as a 25-yard recreational pool, eight multipurpose courts, Sub-Zero Ice Center, a climbing and bouldering wall, sports simulators, multipurpose studios, an indoor jogging track, a rooftop fitness area, and over 29,000 square feet of fitness space.
TODAY’S HOURS
BAKKE RECREATION & WELLBEING CENTER
1976 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262 - 8244
Hours of Operation
August 28 – December 21
| Day of the Week | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday - Thursday | 6am - Midnight |
| Friday | 6am - 10pm |
| Saturday | 8am - 10pm |
| Sunday | 8am - Midnight |
Adjusted Hours
Thanksgiving Weekend | November 22 – November 26
| Day of the Week | Hours |
|---|---|
| November 22 | 6am - 6:30pm |
| November 23 | CLOSED |
| November 24 | 10am - 6pm |
| November 25 | 10am - 6pm |
| November 26 | 10am - 12am |
Final Exam Week | December 15 – December 21
| Day of the Week | Hours |
|---|---|
| December 15 | 6am - 10pm |
| December 16 | 8am - 10pm |
| December 17 (Commencement) | 8am - 10pm |
| December 18 - December 20 | 6am- 10pm |
| December 21 | 6am - 6:30pm |
December 22 – January 7
| Day of the Week | Hours |
|---|---|
| December 22 - December 25 | CLOSED |
| December 26 - December 29 | 8am - 8pm |
| December 30 - January 1 | CLOSED |
| January 2 - January 7 | 8am - 8pm |
January 8 – January 21
| Day of the Week | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday - Friday | 6am - 8pm |
| Saturday - Sunday | 8am - 8pm |
January 22 – May 12
| Day of the Week | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday - Thursday | 6am - Midnight |
| Friday | 6am- 10pm |
| Saturday | 8am - 10pm |
| Sunday | 8am - Midnight |
Adjusted Hours
| Date | Hours |
|---|---|
| May 5 | 8am - 10pm |
| May 6 - May 9 | 6am - 10pm |
| May 10 | 6am - 8pm |
| May 11 - Sunday 12 | CLOSED |
March 22 – March 31
| Date | Hours |
|---|---|
| March 22 | 6am - 8pm |
| March 23 - March 24 | 10am - 8pm |
| March 25 - March 28 | 8am - 8pm |
| March 29 | 8am - 6:30pm |
| March 30 - March 31 | CLOSED |
Check back in April 2024 for summer hours.
None at this time.
Live Building Usage
Level 1 Fitness
Level 2 Fitness
Level 3 Fitness
Level 4 Fitness
Bakke Track
Courts 1&2
Courts 3&4
Courts 5-8
Orbit
Willow Room
SubZero Ice Center
Cove Pool
See it for Yourself
What to Expect
| Original Natatorium | Updated Natatorium* | Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center** | |
| Fitness space (sq. ft.) | 5,353 | 11,028 | 29,000+ |
| Courts | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Ice rink | No | No | Yes |
| Pool | 8-lane, 25-yard competition pool and diving well |
8-lane, 25-yard competition pool and diving well |
8-lane, 25-yard recreational pool |
| Wellbeing Services | No | No | Yes, 4,300 sq. ft |
| Indoor jogging track | No | No | Yes, 3 lanes, totaling 1/8 to 1/5 of a mile |
| Multipurpose rooms | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Performance Training Center | No | Yes | Yes |
| Teaching Kitchen | No | No | Yes |
| Sport Simulators | No | No | Yes |
*In order to account for the closure of the Southeast Recreational Facility (SERF) in August 2017, we made several changes to the Natatorium to increase overall fitness space and usability for our students and members.
**Specs are based on initial design work and may change throughout the planning process based on facility efficiency and programming needs.
Getting There
Parking
- Lot 67 (1 minute walk): located at 2002 Linden Drive. Controlled at all times, limited visitor parking availability, pay at gated exit.
- Lot 57 (1 minute walk): controlled 7:00am – 4:30pm Monday – Friday, Free after 4:30pm & all day Saturday and Sunday.
- Lot 37 (7 minute walk): controlled 7:00am – 4:30pm Monday – Friday, Free after 4:30pm & all day Saturday and Sunday. Timed parking stalls may be available.
- Lot 36 (7 minute walk): located at 1645 Observatory Drive. Controlled at all times, limited visitor parking availability, pay at gated exit.
- Lot 39 (7 minute walk): controlled 7:00am – 4:30pm Monday – Friday, Free after 4:30pm & all day Saturday and Sunday. Timed parking stalls may be available.
- Bike and moped stalls are available in front of Bakke.
For more information on campus parking, check out the parking website for maps, restricted parking times, and more.
Bus
-
- Convenient bus lines include routes A, B, 80, 81, 82, and 84.