WALMART HOME OFFICE

Blockwright (formerly MBL Planning) was proud to be the only local design firm engaged in what is likely to be a major legacy project for Northwest Arkansas: the new Walmart corporate campus in Bentonville AR. In partnership with Sasaki and Gensler, Blockwright  was instrumental in creating a 50-year vision for the home office. 

Blockwright developed key concepts such as incorporating the Razorback Greenway through the heart of campus, and locating the campus on both sides of an urbanized 8th street. Managing Principal Roger Boskus was instrumental in seeing these critical concepts become a permanent part of the overall vision.

Blockwright’s focus on high quality public spaces in and around 8th Street led in part to our selection as the architect

for the campus’s amenity buildings – which are heavily focused on this public way. In the coming years Blockwright’s partnership with Walmart will add a central campus auditorium, food hall, welcome center, and other planned projects to the 8th Street corridor’s already significant investments. Collectively, MBL’s focus on community connected design will help make 8th Street a signature corridor for all of Northwest Arkansas.

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MBL’s expertise in zoning and development codes also led to a significant role in the development of a Planned

Unit Development (PUD) submission for the entire campus. This critical document will provide entitlement for all current and future phases of the project, giving city leaders a sense of what to expect while providing Walmart with the flexibility it needs to adapt the campus to changing work climates.