The large Walmart sign affixed to a building at the company’s former home office campus came down last week, a visible marker that an era is ending.
More changes are on the way, with demolition set to begin on several campus buildings soon as part of a redevelopment of the property.
Walmart opened its 12th and final office building on its new campus in January, marking the end of the moving process for the company. It had occupied its former campus since 1971, according to the company’s corporate history.
A new STEM-focused college, backed by the Walton family, is the anchor of the redevelopment, but it will also include office, hotel, multifamily and retail components, according to Runway Group, a Walton family–backed holding company.
In 2022, Tom and Steuart Walton, who are grandsons of Sam Walton, said they would buy the former home office campus for $60 million, according to news reports from the time.
A representative with Runway Group said demolition work will begin in the coming weeks on two buildings. Construction fencing is already in place around the former Mike Duke Global People Center at 508 SW 8th Street, and a smaller building at 608 SW 8th Street is also slated for demolition.
The still-to-be-named STEM college is slated to open in 2029, according to a recent announcement sharing the news that Dr. David Mazyck will be the college’s first president. Earlier recruiting materials for the position said students were expected on the campus in August 2028.
