The Arkansas Union A6 floor, located above the Union Living Room, underwent major renovations to create a more student-focused environment over the last year. On March 12, many students, faculty and staff showed up for the grand reopening.
The A6 floor is home to key student offices and organizations, including Transition Programs & Initiatives, Parent and Family Programs, Student Engagement and Outreach, Student Involvement & Leadership, the Associated Student Government, and Graduate Professional Student Congress. The floor now offers a revitalized and welcoming space for student engagement.
The renovation project, which began in March 2024, required offices on A6 to temporarily relocate to the second floor of the Arkansas Union. They moved back into their new offices several weeks ago, and after a month of settling into the transformed space, staff and students were eager to celebrate its grand re-opening with the campus community.
“If you had been to the A6 Floor prior to renovation, you would have seen a maze of walls with very little space for students to gather and connect,” said Mary Skinner, director of Student Involvement & Leadership. “Now, with a more open and inviting layout, students have room to study, relax and engage with one another. I’ve already met so many more students simply because they are spending more time in the main area. This is an exciting time for student involvement at the University of Arkansas!”
The open house style celebration provided attendees with the opportunity to explore the redesigned floor, which now offers a modern kitchenette, conference rooms, expanded lounge areas and more. Visitors were treated to refreshments and engagement opportunities with the organizations housed on the A6 floor, including getting “passports” stamped at various stations for a chance to win prizes.
“The grand opening was fantastic! I believe many students had never been on the A6 floor before, and it was great to see them exploring and engaging with the various student programs housed here, including University Programs, the Distinguished Lectures Committee, the Headliners Concert Committee, SOOIE, RSOs, and ASG,” Skinner said. “I loved watching students hang out and actively participate in the passport activity, which encouraged them to learn about the programming areas rather than just visiting the space. I hope that some of the students who attended will feel inspired to get involved in these programs.”
Cameron Green and Sarah Tarawally, both freshmen from Little Rock, attended the grand reopening, and it was their first time on the A6 floor. They explored the space and had their passports stamped at the different organization tables.
“We saw the balloons and the invitation poster, and we decided to come up,” Green said.
“I thought this was a ‘special floor’ and not really open to everyone,” Tarawally said.
Both students were impressed by the space and plan on visiting it more to study and hang out.
“And we really both want to get into ASG now,” Green said.
Mason Berres, president of ASG, said he and his team were excited to be part of the reopening.
“Associated Student Government really enjoyed the grand reopening. It was wonderful to see so many new and returning students exploring a space designed with their best interests in mind,” said Berres. “I hope this new area encourages greater collaboration among the student groups located here and increased participation from students who have yet to engage with our organizations.”
“I think A6 grand reopening was a fantastic event, and I was truly impressed with the energy and excitement in the space,” said Kolade Olatunde, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Congress. “It was wonderful to see such a good turnout, including students who were experiencing the space for the first time. The engagement from students highlighted just how much this space means to our community.”
Olatunde said he looks forward to seeing how fellow students make the most out of the revitalized space.
“I believe the new look and layout will significantly enhance student engagement, collaboration, and inclusivity. The redesign not only makes the space more inviting and functional but also encourages students to connect, share ideas, and feel a stronger sense of belonging,” Olatunde said.
If you’re on campus we invite you to visit the A6 floor of the Arkansas Union and check out the transformed space!
Photos by Joshua Droll
