Gensler’s U.S. Workplace Survey 2016 is the latest in a series that builds on more than a decade of research. The company, an integrated architecture, design, planning and consulting firm, started that journey in 2005 by uncovering a link between a better-designed work environment and performance.

In every subsequent survey, we’ve tried to peel back the layers of comprehension—to understand why, and how, the workplace makes an impact. Through the years, we’ve uncovered how people work, and we’ve found that effective workplace design links to higher business performance.

In our 2013 survey, we discovered that choice drives performance and innovation. That finding really intrigued us and led to this year’s research question: How can the physical workplace environment impact innovation?

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