TL;DR: The Walton family has hired BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group to design a 422,000-square-foot STEM university on the former Walmart Home Office site in Bentonville, targeting a first class of students in 2029 (Talk Business & Politics).
Walton Family STEM Campus Plan for Former Walmart Site
BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, a Copenhagen-based architecture firm, will plan and design a 422,000-square-foot university campus in Bentonville, with Polk Stanley Wilcox, an Arkansas-based firm, serving as architect of record (Talk Business & Politics, June 11, 2026). The project occupies the former Walmart Home Office site at Southwest Eighth Street and South Walton Boulevard. The development will include three four- to five-story buildings: an academic building, a student residence and a makerspace, along with green spaces and public squares (Talk Business & Politics, June 11, 2026). The site sits within the broader corridor that Discover Bentonville, Arkansas highlights as central to the city's ongoing growth.
This plan signals a shift in the area's commercial real estate landscape. The inclusion of a makerspace and residential elements suggests a demand for mixed-use environments that support long-term student and faculty populations. The scale of the 422,000-square-foot footprint indicates a sustained, multi-year commitment to redeveloping this corridor.
STEM University Signals New Era for Bentonville Real Estate
The proposed STEM-focused institution represents a significant shift in the local market, supported by Tom Walton, Steuart Walton and Alice Walton through the Alice L. Walton Foundation as of June 11, 2026. This development signals a transition toward specialized, high-value real estate demand alongside the area's existing commercial expansion. Current listings across the Bentonville market are available on our featured listings page.
The years between the founding president's hiring and the first class give the market time to absorb this coming demand. The emphasis on AI integration within the curriculum further suggests a need for modern, technology-forward facilities as the project moves toward its planned 2029 opening.
STEM University Leadership and Site Development
The university has appointed Dr. David Mazyck as its founding president, a selection announced as of February 4, 2026, according to Talk Business & Politics. Dr. Mazyck previously served as a professor and head of the School of Engineering Design and Innovation at Pennsylvania State University and holds a doctorate in environmental engineering from the same institution. The campus will occupy a 7.79-acre site located at 508 and 608 S.W. Eighth Street, as reported by Talk Business & Politics on February 4, 2026.
This development represents a significant mixed-use project that includes office, hotel, multifamily, and retail components. As of February 2026, the site plan involves demolishing two existing buildings totaling 161,340 and 77,795 square feet. The site work is designed to recycle materials where possible, with an estimated 7,000 tons of concrete and 900 tons of metal slated for recycling. If you are weighing a move as this corridor develops, you can list your home with us to navigate the changing Bentonville market.
Walton Affiliates Acquire Bentonville Office Space and STEM Campus
A Walton-affiliated entity, ABN Holdings LLC, purchased approximately 900,302 square feet of former Walmart Home Office buildings on the same corridor for $73.12 million in June 2026 (Talk Business & Politics, June 5, 2026). This transaction, occurring on the same corridor as the university project, adds significant office inventory to the local market. The acquisition of such a large volume of existing infrastructure suggests a deliberate strategy to consolidate and repurpose institutional assets.
Separately, the university's development plan includes a provision that tuition will be covered for students in the university's initial years of operation (Talk Business & Politics, June 11, 2026). Together, the office acquisition and the tuition-covered academic model underscore the scale of the Walton family's commitment to this corridor.
Bentonville Population Growth and Housing Market Trends
Bentonville's demographic trajectory is accelerating, with the city recording an estimated population of 63,057 as of July 1, 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. This growth rate positioned Bentonville as Arkansas's second-fastest-growing city between 2023 and 2024, a distinction reported by Talk Business & Politics. This sustained influx of residents adds to demand pressure on the local real estate market, alongside the new demand this university project is expected to bring once it opens.
Consequently, the inventory of available properties has tightened. As of July 2026, the median home sale price in Bentonville stood at $415,000, per Houzeo data. At the same time, the market held 766 active listings, which equates to a supply of 2.64 months of inventory. That level of supply is typically associated with a seller's market.
Working With Mason Capital Group in Bentonville
For anyone evaluating property near the new Bentonville university, local market experience matters. Mason Capital Group has maintained a presence in Northwest Arkansas for 30+ years and has executed $2.4B+ in cumulative transaction activity. This track record ensures that clients receive guidance grounded in the specific dynamics of the local market.
Our office is located at 609 SW 8th Street, 6th Floor, Bentonville, AR 72712. To discuss how this development may affect your property plans, please call us at 479-925-3333. Current inventory is on our featured listings page.
What is the projected timeline for the new STEM university campus?
The university's inaugural class is expected to begin classes in 2029, according to Talk Business & Politics (February 4, 2026; June 11, 2026).
Who is leading the university's development and administration?
Dr. David Mazyck serves as the founding president, having most recently served as professor and head of the School of Engineering Design and Innovation at Pennsylvania State University, according to Talk Business & Politics in February 2026.
How much acreage and square footage are involved in the campus plan?
The campus site covers 7.79 acres at 508 and 608 S.W. Eighth Street and includes a planned 422,000-square-foot facility, as stated by Talk Business & Politics in June 2026.
What is the current inventory and pricing landscape in Bentonville?
As of July 2026, there are 766 active listings representing 2.64 months of inventory supply, and the median home sale price is $415,000, according to Houzeo.
Who is funding the university and what are the tuition terms?
The STEM-focused university is supported by Tom Walton, Steuart Walton, and Alice Walton through the Alice L. Walton Foundation, and tuition will be covered for students in the initial years of operation, as reported by Talk Business & Politics in June 2026.