Blast from the past: Ackerman Union turns 65

Breaking ground on Ackerman Union, 1959. Image from ASUCLA Photography Archive.

This April marks 65 years of Ackerman Union, which opened in 1961. The building, owned and operated by ASUCLA, predates familiar campus landmarks such as Pauley Pavilion, the Inverted Fountain, Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden and all of South Campus. It was named after William C. Ackerman ’24, the student union executive director until 1967 and UCLA Men’s Tennis coach, following his retirement. 

Original amenities of Ackerman Union included rooms for billiards and table tennis, a TV lounge, space for meetings and playing cards, a 10-lane bowling alley, indoor and outdoor dining areas, a coffee shop and a grand ballroom, according to the UCLA Alumni Association.

Bowling in the Union, 1961. Image from ASUCLA Photography Archive.

The Ackerman Union facility has undergone various renovations and redesigns since the 60s. In the late 1990s, the UCLA Store temporarily used Towell, a tent structure that previously served as UCLA’s library while Powell Library underwent seismic renovations for five years in the mid 90s, as retail space while Ackerman Union underwent renovations of its own. More recently, the first floor dining area also got a facelift in 2017.

UCLA Computer Store, 1992. Image from ASUCLA Photography Archive.

Today, though some of the leisure spaces such as the bowling alley have closed to make room for other student services, Ackerman Union carries on the legacy of supporting student activities, from lounge areas and the student store to recreational spaces like the Bruin Fun Zone, which opened in 2022. Combining essential services such as groceries, the post office and pharmacy with entertainment and dining options, Ackerman Union remains central to student life at UCLA.