Walmart’s new corporate campus in Bentonville, Arkansas, is set to be the largest Mass Timber (MTC) project under construction anywhere in the United States. Spanning more than 12 buildings across 350 acres, the campus breaks away from previous Walmart corporate buildings that have been described as “redundant, repeatable and abstract” in appearance.
Construction of the office buildings will include 1.7 million cubic feet of regionally-sourced and pre-fabricated mass timber components.
Walmart says off-site MTC construction means buildings can be “designed with precision specifications and engineered to strict performance tolerances, allowing us to prefabricate complete structural building systems, which enhances the efficiency of our project and saves both time and money.”
This will result in many buildings taking shape simultaneously across the campus.
The solid wood building frames will be exposed on the interior to offer natural beauty and warmth, while brick facades and window designs will reflect the regional influence. Large central staircases in each office building will rise from the lobbies, with gathering places centrally located in the core.
MTC is just the start of Walmart’s overall strategy for the campus to gain LEED Platinum certification.
The campus is scheduled to open this year after several years of staged construction. It began in 2019 with the demolition of existing warehouse and office buildings previously occupying the site. Materials from those structures were recycled.
There are a number of energy strategies being employed. Buildings will operate with 100 per cent renewable energy. Interiors will enjoy plenty of natural daylight. Energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems and reduced waste processes are also planned.
One of the most notable environmental strategies involves the 13 acres of campus lakes. Not only will these provide visual appeal and recreation possibilities but will also play a central role in Walmart’s water management program and act as a safeguard against flooding and erosion.
As Walmart explains, the lakes, “will serve as essential components of our storm water management system, benefiting not only the campus but also the surrounding community. As part of our regenerative approach, these reservoirs encompass over 13 acres and are specifically designed to efficiently capture and purify rain and ground water. This initiative allows us to provide a significant supply of over 52 million gallons of water annually for campus irrigation and cleaning purposes. Additionally, it replenishes two vital Northwest Arkansas creeks with clean water.”
Upon completion, the new headquarters will be able to accommodate 15,000 Walmart employees, dominating the City of Bentonville and its population of 55,000.
Also planned are a central gathering hall, amphitheatre, day care for up to 500 children, and a massive “layout centre” to test new store ideas at full scale. Employees can enjoy the 360,000 square foot Walton Family Whole Health and Fitness centre that has been described as a billionaire’s trophy home.
Elsewhere on the site will be a Marriot hotel and a 12-vendor food hall.
Walmart hopes 10 per cent of its employees will use bicycles or other alternate means of transport. Campus biking and walking trails will integrate with the greater Bentonville community. A fleet of rentable bikes and 1,000 bike parking spaces will be provided.
Executive architect for the office buildings and overall campus design is global architectural firm Gensler. It heads a long list of firms that have designed and engineered individual elements of the campus, such as North Carolina-based Dudal|Paine Architects, Arkansas design firms Miller Boskus & Lack and Marlon Blackwell Architects, and California landscape architects SWA. Program manager for the campus project is Turner Construction.
Walmart has clearly indicated a new direction for its corporate offices.
“Our campus will be integrated into the community, designed to be an inclusive and seamless part of the natural beauty of our Northwest Arkansas region. We’ve worked hard to develop a well-designed, exciting, and cohesive campus master plan our associates, their families and the community will be proud of.”
John Bleasby is a freelance writer. Send comments and Climate and Construction column ideas to editor@dailycommercialnews.com.
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