East Campus & Downtown

Vibrant and bustling, UW–Madison’s East Campus and downtown area is where the university meets the city. The area features libraries, the Wisconsin State Historical Society, coffee shops, food carts, restaurants, and shopping. Whether you want a falafel, sushi, or fried cheese curds; a space to do research or just sit and relax with a cup of coffee, East Campus & Downtown has it.

State Street

Badger fans gather on State Street following the UW men's basketball team victory over undefeated Kentucky in the NCAA Final Four game on April 4, 2015. — Badger fans gather on State Street following the UW men's basketball team victory in the NCAA Final Four.

Members of the Wisconsin Competitive Cheer Club walk down State Street before thousands of spectators during the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Homecoming Parade — Members of the Wisconsin Competitive Cheer Club walk down State Street.

Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, along with the downtown Madison Isthmus and Wisconsin State Capitol, are pictured in an early morning aerial — Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, the downtown Madison Isthmus and Wisconsin State Capitol.

A few visitors on library mall near the food carts, State Capitol in the distance. — A few visitors on library mall near the food carts.

The early morning sun rises behind the state capitol building in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, as seen from the roof of the University Bookstore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison — The early morning sun rises behind the state capitol building in downtown Madison.

With the Wisconsin state capitol in the background, pedestrians and students walk along Library Mall and the State Street Mall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison after sunset — Pedestrians and students walk along Library Mall and the State Street Mall.

The Wisconsin State Capitol is pictured in an aerial view of downtown Madison near the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus in an aerial view — The Wisconsin State Capitol.

Downtown Madison, with the Wisconsin State Capitol in the center, along with the State Street corridor near the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus are pictured in an aerial view — Downtown Madison.

The Wisconsin women's crew team rows along Lake Mendota past a silhouette of the Wisconsin State Capitol Building and downtown Madison skyline — The Wisconsin women's crew team rows along Lake Mendota.

Waves of runners leave the start line of the 35th annual Crazylegs Classic at the Capitol Square in downtown Madison, Wis., — Waves of runners leave the start line of the 35th annual Crazylegs Classic at the Capitol Square.

A shaft of late afternoon sunlight falls on the dome of the Wisconsin State Capitol and row of residential homes along the lakeshore of Monona Bay near the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus — The Wisconsin State Capitol.

Badger football fans walk through Library Mall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on their way to the Wisconsin v. Michigan football game at Camp Randall Stadium — Badger football fans walk through Library Mall.

Pedestrians shop for produce and other offerings while walking around the Dane County Farmers' Market that circles the Wisconsin State Capitol in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. — Pedestrians shop for produce and other offerings while walking around the Dane County Farmers' Market.

Pedestrians -- including those wearing red and University of Wisconsin-Madison-branded clothing -- shop for produce and other offerings while walking around the Dane County Farmers' Market that circles the Wisconsin State Capitol in downtown Madison — The Dane County Farmers' Market circles the Wisconsin State Capitol.

During a Wisconsin Welcome event dubbed First Night at the Overture, University of Wisconsin-Madison students listen to the reggae band Natty Nation at the Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison — Students at a Wisconsin Welcome event at the Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison.

During a Wisconsin Welcome event dubbed First Night at the Overture, University of Wisconsin-Madison students cheer a live band karaoke performance at the Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison — Students cheer a live band karaoke performance at Wisconsin Welcome.

East Campus Mall

On a sunny December day, pedestrians walk past the University Square complex and Student Services Tower at 333 East Campus Mall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison — On a sunny December day, pedestrians walk past the University Square complex and Student Services Tower at 333 East Campus Mall.

Pedestrians walk along East Campus Mall past the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during autumn. — Pedestrians walk along East Campus Mall past the Chazen Museum of Art.

Pedestrians cross University Avenue as they walk past the University Square complex and Student Services Tower at 333 East Campus Mall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during spring. — Pedestrians cross University Avenue.

Entrance to the Office of Admissions and the McBurney Disability Resource Center in the Lucky Building.

UW students get registered to vote and cast early absentee ballots in the 2016 presidential election at the Student Activities Center inside 333 East Campus Mall. — UW students registering to vote on campus.

Laptop and desktop computers are aplenty as students study at the Student Activity Center (SAC) at 333 East Campus Mall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on April 18, 2012. The photograph was created for #UWRightNow, a 24-hour multimedia and social network project. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison) — The Student Activity Center.

Laptop computers are aplenty as students study at the Student Activity Center (SAC) at 333 East Campus Mall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on April 18, 2012. The photograph was created for #UWRightNow, a 24-hour multimedia and social network project. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison) — The Student Activity Center.

The Red Gym

Portion of the historic and iconic Red Gym building — The Red Gym acts is one cultural hub on campus.

Bethany Wagner talks with visiting scholar Takashi Kato and his family as an estimated 230 people take part in the Taste of Japan -- an event featuring food from Restaurant Muramoto and presentations about Japanese life, culture, technology — The event Taste of Japan featured food and presentations about Japanese life, culture, technology.

Val Jacob talks with a student at the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center booth during the Fall Student Organization Fair at the Kohl Center — The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center booth at the Fall Student Organization Fair at the Kohl Center.

A taxidermic badger is on display as members of the UW-Madison Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society speak with students during the Fall Student Organization Fair at the Kohl Center — Members of the UW-Madison Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society at the Fall Student Organization Fair at the Kohl Center.

UW-Madison students and members of the local Madison community, including UW student Michael Williams, fill their plates with traditional food during a Native November feast event — Students and members of the local Madison community fill their plates with traditional food during a Native November feast event.

UW-Madison students and members of the local Madison community fill their plates with traditional food during a Native November feast event — Students and members of the local Madison community fill their plates with traditional food during a Native November feast event.

UW-Madison students sing a welcome song during a Native November feast event held in the at the Multicultural Student Center.

Undergraduates participate in the Way Up Multicultural Organization Festival held in the Red Gym.

Sasha Wijeyeratne, social justice education specialist with the Multicultural Student Center and IJET, makes introductory remarks as more than 40 participants gathered for "Tools and Strategies for Cross-Racial Allyship," an interactive workshop hosted by the Multicultural Student Center — More than 40 participants gathered for "Tools and Strategies for Cross-Racial Allyship," an interactive workshop hosted by the Multicultural Student Center.

Edward Brown, Jr., Karla Foster and Patrick Sims share a laugh following a UW-Madison MLK Day event held at Union South's Varsity Hall.

Two women throw up the "W" outdoors in Ireland — UW students throw up the "W" outdoors in Ireland.

UW-Madison undergraduate Haley Drozdowicz presents and asks Laverne Cox, actress and advocate for moving beyond traditional gender expectations, to sign an art nouveau poster based on Cox that Drozdowicz made for a drawing class assignment. — UW-Madison undergraduate Haley Drozdowicz presents Laverne Cox as part of the Union's Distinguished Lecture Series.

Student Breanna Taylor conducts an interview with UW alum Hazel Symonette at the Black Cultural Center inside the Red Gym.

Organizing members of the 1969 Black Student Strike participate in a panel discussion titled "A Recollection of the 1969 Black Student Strike," in the Play Circle Theater.

Audience members listen as organizing members of the 1969 Black Student Strike participate in a panel discussion titled "A Recollection of the 1969 Black Student Strike," — Audience members listen as organizing members of the 1969 Black Student Strike participate in a panel discussion titled "A Recollection of the 1969 Black Student Strike."

Hazel Symonette, program development and assessment specialist in the Division of Student Life, and Marquise Mays, chair of the Wisconsin Black Student Union, perform a libation pouring ritual in memory of those who have passed on during a dedication and libation ceremony for the new Black Cultural Center.

Commemorative T-shirts are pictured as guest mingle in the background of the new Black Cultural Center — The Black Cultural Center.

Library Mall

Vibrant and bustling, Library Mall is home to Memorial Library, the Wisconsin Historical Society, and striking natural beauty. Memorial Library is one of approximately 24 campus libraries. The libraries offer millions of printed volumes, ebooks, and materials in other formats, as well as computer labs and printing services, technology equipment rentals, study rooms, and librarians who are available nearly 24/7 during the academic year. In Library Mall, you can find the community lining up at the Mall’s many food carts, which offer food from around the world.

Dusk falls to nighttime as pedestrians walk along Library Mall and State Street past the University Club — The University Club on Library Mall.

Student walking with his bicycle in front of the University Club building on Library Mall — The University Club building on Library Mall.

A new public-art sculpture made of stainless steel and stone is located at the end of State Street at Library Mall. In the background at right is University Club. — A new public-art sculpture on Library Mall.

Partially hidden inside one of several "study cages," a student quietly works amid the north stacks at Memorial Library at the University of Wisconsin-Madison — A student works amid the north stacks at Memorial Library.

Jacob Peterson, a junior studying geography, uses his laptop computer while working amid the quiet aisles of the north stacks at Memorial Library. — Working amid the quiet aisles of the north stacks at Memorial Library.

People order from a food truck on Library Mall — A food truck on Library Mall.

A young crabapple tree begins to flower along the renovated 700- and 800-blocks of State Street Mall near Library Mall — State Street Mall.

In a view seen from Bascom Hill at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, pedestrians walk along Library Mall and State Street Mall during autumn — Library Mall as seen from Bascom Hill during autumn.

Incoming first-year students walking through Library Mall filled with food trucks, and the capitol in the background. — New students walking along Library Mall.

Student takes a selfie with UW mascot Bucky Badger near the fountain on Library Mall.

Library Mall, food trucks, students. — Library Mall.

students play a game of spike ball on a warm spring day on the lawn near Memorial Library. — Students play a game of spike ball on a warm spring day on the lawn near Memorial Library.

Students in the background sitting on lawn on a warm spring day, the spike of the fountain in the foreground. — Students on a warm spring day.

Aerial shot of students walking on Library Mall on a late fall afternoon — Library Mall.

Uw students compete in a race on a moonwalker bungee run during an all campus party event held on Library Mall — UW students compete in a race on a moonwalker bungee run during an all campus party held on Library Mall

East Campus & Downtown

State Street

East Campus Mall

The Red Gym

Library Mall

Explore Campus

More Information

Plan Your Visit

Getting In

Quick Links