Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center

1976 Observatory Drive | Madison, WI 53706 | (608) 262 – 8244

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.

Bakke (bah-kee) 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.

View Daily Schedules View Live Building Usage

Hours of Operation

January 19 – May 10

Day of the Week	Hours
Monday - Thursday	6am - Midnight
Friday	6am - 10pm
Saturday	8am - 10pm
Sunday	8am - Midnight

Final Exam Week

Date	Hours
May 3	8am - 10pm
May 4 - 7	6am - 10pm
May 8	6am - 8pm

Commencement Weekend

Date	Hours
May 9 - 10	CLOSED

March 27 – April 5

Date	Hours
March 27	6am - 8pm
March 28 - April 5	CLOSED

Check back later for summer 2026 hours.

Check back later for fall 2026 hours.

Check back later for winter break 2026 hours.

Sub Zero Ice Rink

Date	Hours
May 10 - June 8	CLOSED

View Pool Hours

See it for Yourself

Wolf Teaching Kitchen

Bakke Locker Rooms

Cove Pool

Skybox Suites Sport Simulators

Wellbeing Suite

Thrive Studio

Mt. Mendota

Esports Lounge

View Floor Maps

What to Expect

Compared to the Nat

	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 7am – 4:30pm Monday – Friday, Free after 4:30pm & all day Saturday and Sunday.
Lot 37 (7 minute walk): controlled 7am – 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 7am – 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.