Students first asked us to consider a Master Plan for new recreational facilities in spring 2012. With overcrowded and outdated buildings that do not serve campus demand and that are far behind the national standard for fitness space, the current facilities do not meet the needs of students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In a March 2014 referendum to the student government ballot, students voted in favor of the Master Plan for new recreational facilities. A record-breaking 87% of students who voted demonstrated their support for the project, which includes new construction of two buildings and two outdoor fields.
UW-Madison is consistently ranked as one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions. New facilities will help extend our university’s world-class reputation from the classroom to the overall campus experience. We are not only creating larger spaces that will meet demand. We are creating opportunities for Badgers to play hard, get fit, and live well so they can be more effective students, professionals, and contributors to society. On, Wisconsin!
MASTER PLAN PROJECTS
NEAR WEST FIELDS
Directly west of the Natatorium, the Near West Fields are the first completed project of the Master Plan and our first synthetic turf field facility. They can accommodate a variety of sports and feature more economical and environmentally-conscious options for lighting and turf.
NICHOLAS RECREATION CENTER
The Nicholas Recreation Center is the first major building project of the Master Plan and opened September 28, 2020. Named in honor of Albert “Ab” Nicholas, his wife Nancy, and the Nicholas family, this facility features 8 full-size basketball courts, five multipurpose studios, a competition pool and diving well, 30,000 square feet of fitness space, and more.
BAKKE RECREATION & WELLBEING CENTER
The Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center opened on April 24, 2023. This was the third project in our Master Plan. The Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center (Bakke) is named for lead donors Jim (’77) and Sue Bakke and features spaces dedicated to supporting wellbeing services, a 25-yard recreational pool, eight multipurpose courts, Sub-Zero Ice Arena, 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.
NEAR EAST
Renovation of the Near East Fields is expected to follow the construction of the new Natatorium.
MEDIA
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Athletic Business Blog
Badger Herald
- Rec Sports presents master plan, students give feedback (12/11/13)
- 43 percent of funding locked in for Rec Sports Master Plan (1/30/14)
- Rec sports prepares for upcoming student vote (1/20/14)
- Letter to the editor: Rec Sports rethought (2/17/14)
- Vote YES to Recreational Sports proposal come March (2/20/14)
- Letter to the editor: SSFC secretary supports Rec Sports master plan (3/3/14)
- Campus passes Rec Sports Master Plan with wide margin (3/5/14)
- $26 million competition pool added back to Rec Sports Master Plan (5/7/14)
- Rec Sports presents master plan to update recreational facilities (2/17/16)
- Rec Sports renovation plans will make SERF look less like ‘a dungeon’ (9/27/16)
- SERF will accomplish its own new year resolutions with revamped facility (1/20/17)
- New SERF plans clear city committee (1/24/17)
- New SERF plan gets green light from state commission (4/27/17)
- SERF to be renamed the ‘Nick’ in honor of Nicholas family (1/18/18)
Cap Times
- TAA asks UW Athletics to beef up its ‘measly’ offering to rebuild campus rec facilities (2/22/14)
- Students cry foul over UW plan to close the Shell while SERF rebuild underway (5/10/14)
- UW’s plans for rebuilt SERF aim to give students a better workout space (1/13/17)
- Urban Design Commission tells UW to spiff up eastern facade of new SERF design (2/9/17)
- UW-Madison to ask regents for OK to spend $9 million more to rebuild SERF (4/5/17)
- Call it the ‘Nick’: New UW recreation facility to honor philanthropists Ab and Nancy Nicholas (1/16/18)
Daily Cardinal
- Rec Sports suggests updates to facilities (9/3/13)
- Student Council hears rec sports plan (9/19/13)
- Recreational Sports to propose building new SERF, Natatorium (10/23/13)
- Student Service Finance Committee approves Rec Sports Master Plan referendum (12/10/13)
- Letter to the Editor: UW Madison’s College Republicans support the referendum to improve Recreational Sports facilities (2/26/14)
- Vote ‘yes’ on Rec Sports referendum (2/26/14)
- Student Council hears Rec Sports Master Plan (2/27/14)
- Vote ‘yes’ to the Rec Sports referendum (3/4/14)
- Rec Sports Master Plan referendum passes (3/6/14)
- Competition-sized pool funding added to Rec Sports Master Plan (5/6/14)
- Rec Sports director updated on master plan (9/16/14)
- Rec Sports director encourages student involvement in Master Plan (10/23/14)
- Rec Sports factor students into renovation planning (11/6/14)
- Rec Sports director updates ASM Committee on sports facility renovations (11/20/14)
- Board of Regents committee approves next phase of Rec Sports Master Plan (12/4/14)
- SSFC Spotlight: Rec Sports maintains focus on student accessibility, participation (2/23/16)
- SERF officially to be demolished, replaced with bigger gym (4/26/17)
- SERF closing in mid-August, to be demolished in October (6/9/17)
Daily Reporter
Journal Sentinel
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Office of the Chancellor
Office of Sustainability
Proposed Rec Sports Master Plan (2/25/14)
UW-Madison University Communications
- Rec Sports seeks feedback on facilities (10/22/13)
- Students to vote on campus recreational sports improvements (1/29/14)
- Rec Sports Master Plan vote next week (2/26/14)
- UW-Madison to build new competition pool (5/6/14)
- SERF demolition: Out with the old, in with the new
(1/10/18) - Nicholas gift spurs upgrade from SERF to ‘Nick’ (1/16/18)
WISC
Wisconsin State Journal
WKOW
WMSN
"Education isn't just about the mind. It's about figuring out how to live one's life as an effective and productive person, and that means integrating both the mind and the body."
Chancellor Rebecca Blank on the value of campus recreation
SUPPORT THE MASTER PLAN
Your contribution to the Rec Well Master Plan for new recreational facilities reflects your commitment to improving the Wisconsin Experience for students, faculty/staff, and the greater Madison community.
The donation you make today will help provide more opportunities for students to stay active, balanced, and connected to campus. Thank you for your generous support and for your vision of an even better University of Wisconsin.