BENTONVILLE, Ark. — With the annual Walmart Associates Week wrapping up, officials at Walmart say this was a time to showcase some of the buildings completed at the new home office.
"I think the excitement that we're seeing is really true to form. We have a very big vision in this company to bring 'live better' to life," said Raven Washabaugh, Senior Manager of Global Communications for Walmart. "Campus based associates have seen this up close, and seeing the fields associates come and knowing that this could be something that they could be a part of, whether they are planning to relocate here to campus, or if they are planning to expand their network and opportunities."
Spreading out over 350 acres, the new Walmart Home Office promises to host 12 dedicated office buildings alongside amenity spaces such as a hotel, auditorium, fitness center, childcare center, amphitheater, food hall, and two lakes.
Walmart just recently opened Little Squiggles, which is an onsite childcare center. Little Squiggles reportedly can accommodate over 500 children, infants through Pre-K.
The childcare center will be operated by Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc., and is funded by the Walton Family. According to the Bright Horizons website, it is the largest provider of employer-sponsored childcare in the U.S.
"It's really an incredible amenity open to our associates that's very convenient. So I know personally, many of our associates who have benefited from these amenities being open already, they're very excited to see what's next," Washabaugh said.
Recently, Walmart announced its 8th & Plate Walmart employee food hall will have 12 outlets serving its associates. Local favorites include Wright's Barbeque and Ozark Mountain Bagels, and it’s expected to open in early 2025.
The nine parking decks, with more than 1,000 spaces each according to Walmart, will be equipped with "bike and electric vehicle parking, as well as future flexibility for autonomous vehicles."
Walmart also says the new campus will be designed with biking in mind by sporting storage, showers, and changing rooms throughout each "neighborhood" of the campus.
"What's great about this campus, it's made from associates' input, and being able to see this really come to life and in its practice, it's been incredible," Washabaugh said.
They company is taking lots of inspiration from nature with this project, a perfect accommodation for the Natural State. The Razorback Greenway will run straight through the new campus, and Walmart has a goal to reach 10% of associates who live within 10 miles to bike to campus.
"The Razorback Greenway is really exciting because this not only opens the campus up to our associates to utilize that, but for the community to utilize our campus," Washabaugh said. "You'll see some of the mass timber that is a part of the facility, and some of the design that's really cohesive and a reflection of the Ozarks. It's really incredible to see that brought to life knowing that Arkansas is such a big part of our history."
Walmart says the goal is to open the new campus in phases throughout 2025 but notes that "as with any major construction project, timing may change."
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