NIRSA Facility Feature: University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center

NIRSA’s Outstanding Facilities Awards recognize excellence in newly constructed or renovated recreation facilities. Reviewers assess all aspects of the facility design—this includes functionality, sustainability, and the use of technology as well as the building’s impact on the campus recreation program. Earlier this year, the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison was the recipient of a 2024 Outstanding Facilities Award. The recreation and wellbeing center was described by one reviewer as an “exceptional comprehensive facility that will become one of the top holistic health and wellness centers in the country.”

The Bakke Recreation Center, designed by Kahler Slater with HOK, has a striking curvilinear design inspired by the building’s surroundings, which include Lake Mendota. The structure maximizes views of the lake while providing a respectful barrier between the building and the adjacent effigy mounds. The university worked with members of the Ho-Chunk Nation to design and install a Clan Circle which represents the 12 clans of the Ho-Chunk and pays tribute to the history of the site.

Bakke’s construction included sustainable and environmentally friendly practices whenever possible. Low-flow fixtures, native plant landscaping, and LED lighting were incorporated into the design. Energy conservation was also considered; for example, energy from the ice rink is used to heat the pool. Glass was used strategically throughout the building to reduce solar heat gain and to prevent birds from colliding with the building.

Bakke contains many diverse program spaces designed to meet students’ wellness needs in a single location and provide an environment that welcomes all users. Unique studio spaces, including a mirrorless mindfulness studio which minimizes distractions, have adjustable lighting and contain A/V technology throughout. In other areas, specialized glazing can be switched from clear to opaque, allowing for privacy. Additional features of Bakke include:

• A climbing and bouldering wall
• Massage rooms
• A teaching kitchen containing technology to livestream cooking classes
• Spaces dedicated to mental health and peer education
• Napping pods
• Sports simulators
• Outdoor rooftop workout spaces
• A gender-inclusive locker room
• An ice rink
• An indoor jogging track
• A 25-yard recreational pool

“One of my favorite elements of Bakke’s design is how the concept of wellbeing became the main design driver for all aspects of the facility. Alongside the innovative Wellbeing Suite, the building’s wholistic design—including its location, form, choice of interior and exterior materials, and seamless integration with nature—collectively fosters a healthy lifestyle and promotes a sense of wellbeing,” says Adam Bastjan, Design Principal at KahlerSlater.

The building also contains the Conway Adapted Fitness facility, a space specifically designed for community members with permanent or temporary disabilities. Included in the space is a treadmill that can be used by people with limited mobility—like wheelchair users—and a ceiling-mounted harness track for those who need assistance with keeping their balance.

Macrina Abdouch, Project Architect for HOK, states, “There are so many wonderful aspects to this student-centered facility. I love that it is rooted in inclusivity and promotes a holistic approach to wellbeing. A few of my favorite areas of the building include the studio in the round and the fitness in the round spaces located on levels three and four. The cylindrical design creates an immersive experience for UW students with thoughtful features that include color-changing lights, a stretched fabric ceiling, tintable glazing, and NanaWall systems—all contribute to an environment that transcends the typical group fitness studio.”

The Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center’s marketing campaign “You Belong at Bakke” (which was the recipient of a NIRSA Creative Excellence Award), highlighted the university’s commitment to making Bakke appealing and accessible to all users.

NIRSA commends the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Kahler Slater, and HOK on their collaboration which has resulted in this beautiful and functional building. “NIRSA’s Outstanding Facilities Award winners have a reputation for being the gold standard in collegiate recreation design,” says Adam Bastjan, Design Principal at Kahler Slater. “The Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center’s inclusion on the 2024 list of NIRSA Outstanding Facilities Awards recipients is a humbling honor that is shared with UW Rec Well, the UW System, Wisconsin’s Division of Facilities Development, and the entire design team.”

If your facility has recently constructed or renovated your recreation facility, the Outstanding Facilities Award Committee would love to review your application this fall. Keep an eye on the NIRSA Awards webpage; applications for the 2025 awards open in September 2024.