Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness, Bentonville, Arkansas: First Look
Duda/Paine Architects
Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness: The fitness center’s south entry provides a direct connection to the company’s home office campus and is accessed by nearby pedestrian and bike paths.
Duda/Paine Architects
Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness: A series of pavilions allow associates and their families to experience views out to a several ponds and a network of pedestrian and bike trails.
Duda/Paine Architects
Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness: An observation deck overlooks the facility’s three indoor pools, providing a place where visitors can observe the activities below.
Duda/Paine Architects
Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness: The commons is the central organizing element for the building and is designed to flex to different activities, such as meetings or informal gatherings.
Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness, Bentonville, Arkansas
The Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness facility in Bentonville, Ark., empowers Walmart Inc. associates and their families to take charge of their physical, mental, and emotional well-being by leveraging the healing power of community, connections to nature, and access to activities.
Located on the retailer’s home office campus, the 360,000-square-foot facility, designed by Duda/Paine Architects (Durham, N.C.), is scheduled for completion in 2023. It’s named in recognition of the Walton family, which gifted the existing Walton Life Fitness Center to associates and their families, which it is replacing.
Walmart associates, families focus on health, well-being
The project aims to encourage associates and families to choose new ways to support their health and well-being goals with spaces to gather, learn, reflect, and move. Fitness options include three indoor pools, six tennis courts, recreation courts, a walking track, and a café and teaching kitchen for nutrition education. The facility will also have a Youth Activity Center for younger members to explore wellness programs.
The heart of the building is a central commons, which provides adaptable space for community events and wellness activities. Interconnecting beams in the roof structure above this space are designed to evoke the synergy between the many aspects of health. Natural materials such as wood and stone and an abundance of natural light are incorporated to create a welcoming environment.
Surrounding the building, the landscape will provide spaces to relax as well as access to a network of nearby walking and biking trails.
Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness, Bentonville, Arkansas, project details
Location: Bentonville, Ark.
Expected completion date: Late 2023
Owner: Walmart Inc.
Total building area: approximately 360,000 sq. ft.
Architect of record: Duda/Paine Architects
Interior designer: Duda/Paine Architects
General contractor: Flintco Construction
Engineers: Arup (MEP), Fast + Epp (structural)
