Transforming Walmart’s Home Office in Bentonville
By Cindy Simpson
With abundant natural daylight, expanded food offerings, convenient parking, fitness options, and an on-site child care facility, Walmart’s new 350-acre campus in Bentonville, Arkansas, has ample amenities to attract next-gen talent. But the world’s largest retailer’s new home office delivers more than just top amenities and appealing aesthetics. It’s a connected and sustainable campus where associates are inspired to do their best work, a place that reflects the company’s culture, and a campus that seamlessly integrates into the fabric of the local community.
Gensler was named the Design Architect for the office buildings, and is the Executive Architect for the overall campus design. Teams from Boston, Dallas, and Houston will spend the next few years designing the retailer’s storied headquarters with the goal of creating zero waste, operating with 100% renewable energy, and using sustainable resources and products.
The new campus will be fully integrated into the community, and inclusive of the natural beauty of Northwest Arkansas. The Razorback Regional Greenway will run through the campus, offering integrated biking and walking trails and elevating internal mobility on the site. Such features will encourage human interaction and community building — a key component of tomorrow’s livable cities.
The company’s commitment to sustainability is evident throughout the design. Abundant daylight, views, and green space will connect associates to nature indoors and outdoors. Additionally, the campus will incorporate other sustainable design strategies, including energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, as well as mass timber construction and regionally sourced building materials. Flexible workspaces and other tech-empowered workplace amenities on the modern, connected campus will accelerate Walmart’s digital transformation and help attract the next generation of talent.
Gensler will design the future office buildings and will lead a team of consultants to create a campus that honors Walmart’s history and amplifies the company’s potential to impact the local community. This design approach will create a wellness-driven experience for employees and will enable Walmart to continue attracting top talent as it looks toward the future. The new campus will be a physical reflection of the company’s focus on promoting positive change in Bentonville and in communities throughout the world.
