Walmart reveals its park-like, state-of-the-art home office campus
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Sam Walton Hall. Photo courtesy Walmart.
Some of Walmart's new home office buildings smelled faintly of of fresh paint Friday as the company showed off amenities to employees and dignitaries that included Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Why it matters: The 350-acre "multibillion-dollar" campus promises to be the place where global retail talent aspire to work, and serve as a bellwether for other companies.
- The space is a departure from Walmart's previous low-frills home office but still complies with its low-price corporate ethos, executives said.
The big picture: The park-like space prioritizes worker well-being and the environment, Cindi Marsiglio, the retailer's SVP of corporate real estate, said.
- Sustainable design and materials are being used in the 4 million square feet of buildings. Much of the construction is modular and pre-fabricated.
- "We've saved a ton by making smart choices. Ninety-five percent of the light fixtures are one fixture — same fixture, same bulb," Marsiglio told Axios.
State of play: The retailer revealed its gateway Welcome Center, a 200,000-square-foot, two-story auditorium called Sam Walton Hall and other key locations:
- An outdoor venue of terraced seating for campus and community gatherings, dubbed Helen's Amphitheatre after Helen Robson Walton, founder Sam Walton's wife.
- A mall-like food court with coffee shops, food truck pavilions, grab-and-go markets and a rooftop lounge.
- Two of 12 total office spaces where employees will begin relocating soon.
The campus will be part of the community, so several street-front retail locations that will be open to the public some time this summer were also announced: Bentonville Bicycle Company, Flyway Brewing, Gearhead Outfitters, The Gents Place, Hatch Early Mood Food, Jamba Juice, Riserva Bar + Tapas, Swig, Walmart Pharmacy, Wrights BBQ and Yokozuna Sushi.
Fun fact: The Razorback Regional Greenway will run through the campus and a planned Onyx Coffee Lab shop will offer bike-up service. Cyclists will be able to ride across its roof if they want.
Threat level: Walmart's corporate culture has recently been criticized for announcing its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
- A letter from shareholders to CEO Doug McMillon this week asked the company to "not succumb to political pressure asking you to forsake your values."
What they're saying: "We'd already moved to the term 'belonging' over a year ago," Dan Bartlett, EVP of corporate affairs told Axios.
- "When you serve all of America, when you employ all of America, it's best that we don't insert ourselves into divisive cultural debates in our country," he said.
- "We aspire to be a place where — regardless of your politics or regardless of your views on cultural issues — you still feel like you're welcome and seen at Walmart."
What's next: Employees will begin moving into buildings as they're completed in a phased approach throughout 2025.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to note that street-front retail locations will be open to the public this summer. A previous version of the story stated they would be open in the spring.