UW-Madison opens doors to Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center 

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, UW–Madison has opened the Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center, a new recreation facility, as of 11 a.m. today.  

Named for alumnus donor Jim Bakke and his wife, Sue, the facility is home to a traditional fitness center as well as a teaching kitchen, an eight-lane swimming pool, a rock-climbing wall, an ice rink, nap pods for students, mental health spaces, an esports gaming room, and eight basketball courts, among other amenities. The space is projected to be used by about 50 sports clubs and see 1 million visits per year.  

The Bakke building replaces the former Natatorium and, at 29,000 square feet, is a much larger facility. The project cost $113.2 million and is part of a four-part, decade-long revival of the university’s recreation facilities.