A world-class STEM university is coming to small town Arkansas

A new STEM-focused university is planned for Bentonville, Arkansas, with initial renderings released by the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Announced in 2025, the project is backed by brothers Tom and Steuart Walton, grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton. The design features a three-building campus covering over 420,000 square feet, including an academic building, student residence, and makerspace, all clad in rusty reds and copper and designed to integrate with the surrounding community. BIG founder Bjarke Ingels stated the goal is to break down barriers between the campus and the city, envisioning it as an integrated neighborhood with academic facilities, shops, cafes, and housing for both students and residents. The university is slated to open in 2029, representing another significant development in Bentonville, which has seen substantial transformation driven by the Walton family, including the establishment of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art by Alice Walton, which opened in 2011.