1200 Observatory Drive | Madison, WI 53706-1212 | Map
498 residents | Coed by wing | Single and double rooms
Gender inclusive room options available
Opened 1940 | Named after Elizabeth Waters
Waters Residence Hall is centrally located in the heart of campus along the shore of Lake Mendota. Waters provides convenient access to libraries, the student unions, classrooms, and local Madison attractions, though with everything going on inside, you might not even need to leave the building.
Residents of Waters have a full array of services under one roof, including an in-house dining market (Liz’s Market), on-site tutoring, and study spaces. Waters also has its own set of academic advisors from Cross-College Advising Services (CCAS) stationed inside the building. Waters is also home to Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), a learning community that provides a stimulating environment for women interested in science, technology, engineering, or math to make strong academic and personal connections with each other as well as UW-Madison staff and faculty who share their interests.
The diverse resident population of new and continuing students promotes a strong sense of community and makes living in Waters a memorable experience. While Waters used to house exclusively female residents, it was changed to co-ed in 2006 and has been a favorite among both men and women due to its location, resident room size, and convenience of amenities.
- Nearest Dining: Liz’s Market
- Classroom: Lower Level, Leopold Residence Hall
- Academic Advising: First Floor, Ingraham Hall
- Hall Desk: Main Lobby Area
- Kitchen: West of Main Lounge
- Laundry: Across from Main Lounge
- Music Practice Room: Main Lounge Area
- Carpeting in Resident Rooms: Yes
- Air Conditioning in Resident Rooms: No
- Room Rate: Mid
- Neighborhood: Lakeshore
- Bathrooms Shared By: Floor wing
- Single Use Bathrooms: Yes (one in each of the following areas: Liz’s Market, Main Lounge Area, Lobby, Johnson and Hanning Houses)
- Gender inclusive room options available
Related Pages
Communities
Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) Learning Community
(three houses of Waters Residence Hall)
Connect with fellow women interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, and get a behind-the-scenes view of all that a large research university offers.
Room Types
Single
- Features: built-in closet, bed, bookcase, desk, desk chair, dresser, refrigerator
- Typical Dimensions: ~ 11′ 8″ x 17′ 9″
With Bath
- Features: bed, bookcase, desk, desk chair, dresser, refrigerator
- Typical Dimensions: ~ 11′ 8″ x 11′ 10″
Double
- Features: two built-in closets, two beds, two bookcases, two desks, two desk chairs, two dressers, refrigerator
- Typical Dimensions: ~ 17′ 6″ x 11′ 6″
Virtual Tour (2019)
With Bath
- Features: two beds, two bookcases, two desks, two desk chairs, two dressers, refrigerator
- Typical Dimensions: ~ 12′ 1″ x 14′ 11″
*Typical room dimensions shown. Rooms vary slightly.
Floor Plans
B: Bathroom | X: Elevator | SR: Staff Room | S: Single | D: Double | SWB: Single with Bath | DWB: Double with Bath
Measurements
*Note: rooms in some residence halls have mixed furniture. Measurements and dimensions may vary. Due to the variety of residence halls, rooms, furniture, closets, etc. in University Housing, we are unable to provide measurements for all possible situations and items. If the measurement you’re looking for isn’t shown on our website, we are unable to provide it at this time. Measurements for all residence halls can be found on the Inside Our Rooms page.
Residence Halls Furniture Measurements
Residence Halls Miscellaneous Measurements
Residence Halls Lofting Measurements
Rates
The projected annual rates listed below are per resident and include housing during fall and spring breaks (winter break housing is available for an additional fee). Most new residents are assigned to a double room. Costs are billed by semester, combined with the tuition bill. Students select from one of three dining plan options based on their eating habits and how much they plan to dine on campus. For a full listing of residence hall rates and what is included, visit our Billing & Rates page.
Note: total costs of UW-Madison University Residence Halls room and dining plan rates can be calculated by:
- [Room Rate] + [Dining Plan Rate] = Total Room & Board Costs
| wdt_ID | Dining Plan | 2025-26 Dining Plan Rate / Semester | 2025-26 Dining Plan Rate / Academic Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go10 | 2,050 | 4,100 |
| 2 | Go14 | 2,300 | 4,600 |
| 3 | GoUnlimited | 2,900 | 5,800 |
Photos
*Note: rooms in some residence halls have mixed furniture. Furniture, measurements, and dimensions may vary from what is shown.
Heating & Cooling
Heating
In Waters, hot water is pumped through convectors located near windows in resident rooms and common spaces for heat. A thermostat that controls the heat in resident rooms is located on the wall and can be set from 65 – 75 °F, with the dial’s middle setting being 70° F (see photo). Turn the dial right (clockwise) to decrease heat and left (counterclockwise) to increase heat.
Cooling
In Waters, air-conditioning is only provided in common areas such as dens, lounges, and kitchens. Residents can request permission to bring their own portable air conditioner if they qualify for a medical need.
Tips
- Try small adjustments first to avoid overheating/cooling
- Do not push furniture, bedding, or belongings against convectors as this could block airflow
- When in your room during the heating season, open curtains and blinds during the day to allow the sun to warm the room naturally and prevent air from being trapped against the window, and close them at night to decrease drafts — during the cooling season, do the reverse
- Keep doors and windows closed when the heat or air conditioning is on
- Consider using blankets and sweaters instead of turning up the heat
- Open windows slightly for short periods of time to allow outside air to circulate
- When possible, keep the room door open to promote air movement and introduce fresh air
- Take wet clothing or towels to a laundry room to be washed/dried ASAP to reduce moisture
- Run a fan to help circulate air
- Fish tanks, plants, humidifiers, and diffusers can contribute to humidity/moisture levels in your room
Waters Professional Staff
Olivia Perkins
Position title: Residence Life Assistant Director