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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart today is celebrating the start of a phased opening of its new headquarters, a 350-acre campus built on a continuous parcel of land roughly the size of nine city blocks and sustainably designed to serve as the heartbeat of the world’s largest company by revenue.
“Our new home office honors our heritage and the contributions that generations of associates have made to help people save and have a better life,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in a press release. “Our founder, Sam Walton, knew that when we all work together, ideas flourish, and this campus will allow us to keep making a positive difference in our customers’ lives for generations to come.”
McMillon and others at Walmart emphasize the positive role that a state-of-the-art campus will play in the recruitment and retention of workers. The new headquarters puts a premium on environmental sustainability, which resonates with many employees’ values. And by integrating the workplace with on-site amenities, officials are confident that the new campus reinforces the sense of balance that makes Bentonville an attractive place to work and live.
Amenities include a rooftop bar, a hotel and child-care facilities
On-site work began about three years ago. The headquarters’ phased opening will continue throughout 2025, with today’s celebration marking the beginning of the process.
The new campus will have 12 office building, 11 parking garages, and 10 facility buildings for employee amenities such as a fitness center, a rooftop bar, and a meeting space, dubbed Sam Walton Hall, located in the center of the campus and that can accommodate groups of up to 4,000 people.
The grounds will include outdoor areas for recreation, including 10 miles of walking and biking trails.
Eatery options are extending beyond the single cafeteria that served Walmart's original main building, two miles up the road, where Sam Walton set up an office after launching the company in 1962. The new campus hosts a smattering of restaurant concepts and food trucks are scattered across the site.
Embracing the natural beauty of the Ozarks
“The focus on comprehensive associate wellness extends throughout the outdoor spaces, integrating seamlessly with the community and embracing the natural beauty of the region,” Walmart said in announcing the start of the phased opening. "The ‘big nature’ landscape plan incorporates over 750,000 native plants, including 5,000 planted trees, reflecting the native habitats of the Ozarks.
"Shaded walkways and dedicated bike paths create an environment that promotes active commuting while reducing traffic and parking demands. An inviting street front retail environment featuring a mix of local and national retail outlets seeks to engage visitors and the community to enjoy the new campus.”
In addition to the focus on green space representing 50% of the campus, 12 office buildings, built with the largest application of mass timber in the United States, are designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification and run on renewable energy.
More than 13 acres of lake reservoirs are smart technology-enabled to assist in water management, while dynamic glass designed to reduce energy load and LED lighting is fitted throughout all structures.
The new campus is merely the latest imprint Walmart is making on Bentonville, a city of 61,000 residents on the edge of the Ozark Mountains with a burgeoning reputation as a tourist hub.
Visitors are drawn by the area’s world-class mountain-biking terrain as well as its thriving art scene. Bentonville is home to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, opened in 2011 by Sam Walton’s daughter, Alice, whose personal collection formed the foundations of the museum. Today, there’s no charge for a general admission pass to the museum’s collection of American art spanning five centuries. Crystal Bridges also hosts immersive installations, contemporary photo exhibitions, and public programs including lectures, performances, and classes.
Bentonville’s boom has made it one of America’s fastest-growing cities.
