From baking their first pizza in a broom closet in Jeffersonville, IN, to operating more than 5,000 locations in 45 countries and territories around the world, Papa Johns has built a pizza empire by staying true to their values.

Papa Johns built its foundation on quality, utilizing the best ingredients to build a better pizza. When the company decided to open a new multi-floor, 60,000 square foot headquarters in Atlanta, GA, they chose to work with IA Interior Architects and Office Creations to design the space.


To give the company a fresh start, new furniture was purchased to update the company’s workplace aesthetic. Emphasis was placed on the ability for the furniture to be utilized and moved from room to room without compromising design cohesiveness. Environmental impact was considered with special attention given to eliminate or minimize the incorporation of VOCs and vinyl into the project. Efforts were also made to source locally to engage the surrounding community.


Kimball International’s family of brands and broad statement of line were chosen to furnish part of the space. The Papa Johns headquarters includes a variety of spaces including a state-of-the art test kitchen, a multi-purpose room, an expansive town hall hub, well-being suites, project rooms, open offices, a social media room, and an area Papa Johns refers to as the “Restaurant of the Future”.

Each space required a distinct set of design considerations. The multi-purpose room and project spaces required furniture that could be moved and stored as the function of the room changed. A variety of solutions were chosen to meet the needs of all team members. When designing the town hall or hub for the space, focus was given to technology integration, sightlines, movability, and acoustics. With an emphasis on well-being for employees, Papa Johns also created in-office healthcare spaces for their Papa Cares program, which required furniture cleanability and an approachable and comfortable aesthetic. The open office workstations considered acoustics, power integration, ergonomics, and durability. When designing the social media room, branding and a youthful aesthetic were showcased with plush and vibrant solutions. An elevated design motif was chosen for the Restaurant of the Future, a space where Papa Johns can bring vendors. When selecting seating in this space, options were provided to address accessibility needs of all guests.

“Papa Johns chose metro Atlanta for their new headquarters due to the energetic and diverse community, world-class innovation, deep talent pool, and accessibility through the world-class airport,” said Marvin Boakye, Chief People and Diversity Officer at Papa Johns. “We’re thrilled to open this office and look forward to growing our existing teams and embracing the local community.”