The Infinite Loop - Finishing right where you started???

In reading the article 5 Lessons Learned, it's interesting to read Robin Weckesser's recollection of his evolution at Apple from many, many years ago.  Specifically, that many of the thought processes and approaches to designing work spaces deployed in Apple in the 90s, are key elements used in their landmark project named the Infinite Loop Campus.  It would appear that they're as relevant today as they were almost 30 years ago.

I tried to make light of that fact, given that despite all of the evolution and advancement of design and theory, its seems that the model has somewhat circled back to its origins.  Regardless of my view, what resonates most with me is the time, approach, and attention placed upon understanding the business.  This leads me back to one of my biggest and most emphasized points when discussing (specifically) my team's service offering: (in general) the vendors which service the real estate industry understand so very little about it. In my experience, Design & Engineering firms are far more focused on the project than they are on the business, which is why large organizations have had to develop in-house talent.  Vendors simply don't get into the details of the market, the industry, business processes, drivers for growth, market trends, etc.  In my view this is why so many offices spaces and commercial environments are similar, even though the businesses are anything but.  Perhaps that's how/why Weckesser landed this job in the first place?

I strive to understand businesses and markets so that I'm better able to devise a strategy/solution to a client problem, rather than regurgitating the same rhetoric over and over again.  And I think that the 5 steps outlined in this article are a pretty good place to end......or start.  Whichever.

Am I just going in circles here or am I making sense.  What do you think?