Walmart has come a long way since 1962.
The world’s largest retailer just officially opened a new 350-acre headquarters in its hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas.
Friday marks the start of a phased opening, with two office buildings open now and 10 more to follow.
Elsewhere on the sprawling campus, employees and visitors can access bike trails, a food hall, childcare facilities, and a massive fitness center.
“Our founder, Sam Walton, knew that when we all work together, ideas flourish,” CEO Doug McMillon said in a statement. “This campus will allow us to keep making a positive difference in our customers’ lives for generations to come.”
Here’s an inside look at the multibillion-dollar project.
Sam Walton Hall sits at the heart of campus.
The building features conference and educational facilities to host gatherings of corporate workers and field employees.
Inside the hall is a two-story, 200,000-square-foot auditorium.
The hall hosts the campus’ official grand opening on Friday.
Outside Walton Hall is an amphitheater named for Sam’s wife, Helen.
Terraced seating and a tree-lined lawn will be available for company and community gatherings, Walmart said. More broadly, there are 750,000 native plants, including 5,000 trees that are indigenous to the Ozarks.
A network of bike paths connects the various buildings.
The 350-acre campus has seven miles of paths and more than 1,000 bike spaces.
Employees and visitors can also rent bikes to get around.
Walmart says green spaces represent half of the total campus.
One of the first office buildings to open is named “Cheer.”
Many stores start the day with a cheer that spells out the letters of the name Walmart.
Walmart has made a big push to get employees back to in-person work.
Last year, the company required many workers to relocate to Bentonville from other areas of the country.
Walmart says its campus represents the largest application of mass timber construction technology in the US.
The buildings are designed for LEED Platinum environmental certification, and feature a slew of eco-friendly tech, such as dynamic glass and LED lighting.
8th & Plate is a “dynamic food hall” that offers food from around the world.
The food hall features seven coffee shops, spaces for food trucks, grab-and-go options, street-front retail, and a rooftop lounge.
Childcare is provided at the Little Squiggles Enrichment Center.
The center opened last May and offers services for children from infancy to pre-K.
Affordable, on-site childcare was one of the most-requested amenities by employees.
The 73,000-square-foot facility accommodates 500 children and is the largest childcare center in northwest Arkansas, Walmart says.
Early last year, the company unveiled the Walton Family fitness center.
The massive 360,000-square-foot center features a yoga studio, pools, a nutrition center, and more, serving more than 31,000 employees and family members.
True-blue Walmart fans can stop by the welcome center to pick up company gear.
Earlier in the week, Walmart unveiled its first brand refresh in 17 years, with tweaks to its colors, font, and logos.
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