Waltons go BIG on new STEM university campus
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Rendering courtesy the Bjarke Ingels Group
Members of the Walton family selected Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) to design the new STEM-focused university planned for the former Walmart Home Office site in Bentonville.
Why it matters: The future university plans to offer flexible pathways to jobs in automation, logistics, biotech and computing — fields crucial to Northwest Arkansas' future.
- Building talent in STEM (science, tech, engineering, and math) is a priority for the U.S., China and other countries racing to compete in the global economy.
State of play: The initial campus will include about 422,000 square feet across three buildings: an academic building, student residence and a makerspace.
- The plan connects the campus with Bentonville's downtown grid and nearby parks, with public squares, green space and buildings designed to feel open and integrated with the community.
Details: The makerspace is planned as a visible hub for workshops, labs, student services and prototyping. The academic building will include classrooms, labs, offices and study space, while the residence hall will include dining and shared amenities.
Catch up quick: Steuart Walton, Tom Walton and Alice Walton, through the Alice L. Walton Foundation, are among the family members supporting the university.
- ABN Holdings, owned by Steuart and Tom Walton, recently bought five former Walmart home office buildings in Bentonville totaling about 900,300 square feet for $73.12 million, expanding their ownership around the site.
What's next: The university intends to welcome its first class in 2029, with tuition fully covered in its initial years.
The bottom line: The project turns Walmart's former home base into a higher-ed bet on Bentonville's next economy.