The Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center at the University of Wisconsin was designed to not only address the current and future recreation and fitness needs of the Madison community, but to become the center for wellbeing on a campus of nearly 50,000 students. The concept of total-body wellness inspires site integration, exterior massing and all interior spaces to create a truly unique collegiate recreation center experience.
Located near Lake Mendota, the new center offers a 25-yard recreational pool, eight basketball courts, an ice sheet with spectator seating, multiple fitness areas, multipurpose studios and an indoor jogging track. The design also incorporates an adapted fitness space for the university’s Kinesiology program, esports, all-sport simulators, and a demonstration kitchen to provide a more inclusive experience.
The design programmatically complements a recently opened recreation center on the opposite side of campus but strives to provide a unique environment that is inspired by wellness and its natural setting. From a four-level fitness center that is located specifically to capture views of Lake Mendota, to multiple rooftop terraces, the design is focused on connecting the users of the building with the landscape surrounding the facility.
UW-Madison’s Rec Well staff recognized a major deficit on campus in programming dedicated to wellness. Bakke offers atypical amenities including the Wellness Suite, the Mind Body Studio, nap pods, massage therapy rooms and study spaces.
Architect of Record
Kahler Slater
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Associate Architect
HOK
Kansas City, Missouri
Aquatics Consultant
Water Technology Inc.
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Suppliers
Fitness Center - Cardiovascular Equipment | Assault Air Pro Bike |
Training Facilities - Taping/Treatment Tables | Athletic Edge Tables, Massage Tables: Stronglite Ergo Lift |
Fitness Center - Entertainment Systems | AV: QSC |
Fitness Center - Free-Weight Equipment | BeaverFit |
Fitness Center - Cardiovascular Equipment | Boost |
Fitness Center - Entertainment Systems | Cable TV: SpectrumU |
Fitness Center - Cardiovascular Equipment | CLMBR |
Pools - Scoreboard/Timing Systems | Colorado Time Systems |
Fitness Center - Cardiovascular Equipment | Concept2 |
Fitness Center - Entertainment Systems | Cycling Classes: Integlligent Cycling |
Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Scoreboards/Timing Systems | Daktronics |
Pools - Deck/Basin Surface | Dal-Tile |
Fitness Center - Entertainment Systems | Digital Signage: Four Winds Interactive by Poppulo |
Fitness Center - Climbing Walls | Eldorado Climbing |
Fitness Center - Free-Weight Equipment | ELEIKO |
Fitness Center - Entertainment Systems | Esports: GG Circuit |
Fitness Center - Free-Weight Equipment | FitBench |
Fitness Center - Cardiovascular Equipment | Freemotion |
Fitness Center - Strength Equipment | Freemotion |
Locker/Shower - Lockers | Hollman |
Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Arena Seating | Hussey Seating Co.
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Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Bleachers/Grandstands | Hussey Seating Co.
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Ice Rinks - Bleachers/Grandstands | Hussey Seating Co.
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Fitness Center - Assessment & Monitoring Equipment | InBody |
Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Basketball Backboards/Supports | Jaypro |
Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Divider Curtains | Jaypro |
Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Volleyball Nets and Standards | Jaypro |
Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Wall Padding | Jaypro |
Fitness Center - Cardiovascular Equipment | Keiser |
Fitness Center - Cardiovascular Equipment | Matrix |
Fitness Center - Free-Weight Equipment | Matrix |
Fitness Center - Strength Equipment | Matrix |
Fitness Center - Flooring, Aerobics | Mondo |
Fitness Center - Flooring, Fitness Center | Mondo |
Indoor Sports Surfaces - Track | Mondo |
Laundry - Dryers | Pellerin Milnor Corp |
Laundry - Washers | Pellerin Milnor Corp |
Fitness Center - Free-Weight Equipment | Power Systems |
Fitness Center - Cardiovascular Equipment | Precor |
Locker/Shower - Shower/Toilet Partitions | PSISC |
Fitness Center - Entertainment Systems | Q-SYS, Crestron |
Ice Rinks - Dashers | Rink Systems |
Indoor Sports Surfaces - Basketball | Robbins Sport Surfaces |
Indoor Sports Surfaces - Multipurpose | Robbins Sport Surfaces |
Fitness Center - Flooring, Aerobics | Robbins Sport Surfaces |
Fitness Center - Free-Weight Equipment | Rogue |
Fitness Center - Cardiovascular Equipment | Scifit |
Fitness Center - Entertainment Systems | Simulators: Full Swing |
Locker/Shower - Swimsuit Extractors | Suitmate by Extractor Corp. |
Fitness Center - Free-Weight Equipment | Tag Fitness |
Locker/Shower - Flooring | Unicom Starker |
Fitness Center - Cardiovascular Equipment | Woodway |
Pools - Chemical Control Systems | BECS Technology |
Pools - Lane Markers | Competitor Swim |
Pools - Gutters | Daldorado |
Pools - ADA Lifts | Fluidra/S.R.Smith |
Pools - Cleaners/Vacuums | Maytronics |
Pools - Filtration Systems | Neptune-Benson |
Pools - Sanitization Systems | Neptune-Benson |
Pools - Circulation Pumps | Pentair |
Pools - Cleaners/Vacuums | Spectrum Aquatics |
Pools - Ladders/Grab Bars | Spectrum Aquatics |