Walmart Unveils New Home Office

Walmart (Bentonville, Ark.) has starting moving into its New Home Office in its hometown. The retailer says the 350-acre complex “establishes a new standard for corporate headquarters that prioritizes worker well-being, environmental stewardship, and public accessibility.”

The new, 12-building campus – which will replace most of the retailer’s existing HQ complex and be home to about 12,000 workers once fully occupied – involves a multibillion-dollar investment featuring mass timber construction, smart building technology, offices designed to be powered by renewable energy and seamless integration with downtown Bentonville.

“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,” said CEO Doug McMillon. “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.”

An overview of Walmart’s New Home Office. Photo: Courtesy of Walmart

Key locations on the campus include:

Welcome Center: The campus gateway that welcomes both visitors and associates.

Sam Walton Hall: a 200,000-square-foot, two-story auditorium featuring advanced conference, learning and development spaces.

Helen’s Amphitheatre: An outdoor venue honoring Helen Robson Walton’s legacy, featuring terraced seating and a tree-canopied lawn for campus and community gatherings.

8th & Plate: A food hall offering global cuisine through seven coffee shops, food truck pavilions, grab-and-go markets, a rooftop lounge and street-front retail and restaurants.

Office Spaces (Cheer and Ol’ Roy): With design, identity and imagery that evoke history, culture and leaders who have shaped the company, the first two of 12 office spaces and their unique stories will be unveiled, with more opening throughout the year.

Street Front Retail: Retail shops open to the public feature locally and nationally recognized brands, including Bentonville Bicycle Co., Flyway Brewing, Gearhead Outfitters, The Gents Place, Hatch Early Mood Food, Jamba Juice, Riserva Bar + Tapas, Swig, Walmart Pharmacy, Wrights BBQ and Yokozuna Sushi. The retail will open this spring.

Gensler served as executive architect for the project, leading a team that also included design firm Sasaki, landscape architect SWA Group and cost estimator/value engineering firm Coreslab Structures.