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
May 15 – June 18
| Day of the Week | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday - Friday | 10am - 8pm |
| Saturday - Sunday | 10am - 8pm |
June 19 – August 27
| Day of the Week | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday - Thursday | 6am - 10pm |
| Friday | 6am - 8pm |
| Saturday - Sunday | 8am - 8pm |
Adjusted Hours
| Date | Hours |
|---|---|
| May 26 | 10am - 6:30pm |
| May 27 - May 29 | Closed |
| July 3 | 6am - 6:30pm |
| July 4 | Closed |
Check back in July 2023 for fall hours.
Check back in November 2023 for winter break hours.
April 24 – May 14
| Day of the Week | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday - Friday | 10am - 8pm |
| Saturday - Sunday | 10am - 8pm |
Adjusted Hours
| Date | Hours |
|---|---|
| April 24 | 11am - 8pm |
| May 13 | Closed |
| May 14 | Noon - 6pm |
Check back in January 2024 for spring break hours.
The level 2 fitness area (from west to east on the north wall) and the Willow Room/Deck will be closed until further notice for maintenance.
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
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.