A 350-acre (142-ha) mass timber Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, has recently reached completion.
The home office campus includes more than 30 buildings, including parking garages, shops, a hotel, and a fitness center, distributed across a campus designed by landscape architect SWA Group to reflect the local Arkansas environment.
All buildings were kept to four or five stories, and primary materials include brick, glass, and metal panel exteriors and interiors made of concrete, metal, wood, and tile.
Locally fabricated mass timber was also used to construct the buildings’ structures as part of an overall commitment to sustainability. Additional sustainable design strategies include biophilic design, natural ventilation systems, and a kit-of-parts building strategy to speed up construction and reduce cost.
The numerous buildings are grouped closely, connected by walking paths and pedestrian bridges. A large amphitheater is located at the “heart” of the campus.
On either end of the campus, two large water bodies capture stormwater for irrigation. The south lake is in a large greenspace, while the north lake sits in front of the fitness center.
Gensler was tasked with the overall campus design and its 12 office buildings, while architecture studios such as Duda|Paine Architect and Page designed the on-site Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness center and a childcare facility, respectively.
The campus will eventually serve 15,000 employees, opening in phases over 2025.
