David Nelson

Senior Executive Partner, Head of Design

RCA (MA)

David Nelson is a Senior Executive Partner, Head of Design and a member of the Design Board, a position he has held since 2004. Throughout his long career with Foster + Partners, he has played a key role in shaping its creative and operational direction. He has been involved in some of the practice’s most recognisable buildings, from the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Headquarters to Apple Park in Cupertino, as well as high profile projects in China, Singapore and Korea. As a member of the Design Board, David has an overview of every project. Each one benefits from the collective knowledge and expertise of Foster + Partners’ architects and specialist teams. The Design Board is at the heart of the design process, guiding and supporting teams, questioning, maintaining quality and focusing the practice’s collective experience at all stages. His understanding of the studio’s evolution, his open, collaborative mindset and continued leadership role has made David a key figure in Foster + Partners’ evolution; he also brings a global perspective, gained from living in Hong Kong and travelling extensively to construction sites and projects across the world.

David Nelson

In this studio our Specialist Design Services enhance the well-established role of what an architectural team has to achieve. Combining evermore diverse skills into the development of projects enriches and adds great meaning to everything we do. Continual development of shared experience is crucial.

Project Experience

LG SIGNATURE OLED TV R, LG Electronics

2019

Duisburg Inner Harbour Masterplan

2003

Ixa, Artemide

2022

Century Tower

1991

SETA, Mattiazzi

2023

Marine Simulator Centre

1993

Reichstag, New German Parliament

1999

Capella Resort

2009

1292, FSB

2024

Foster 620, Walter Knoll

2018

Kamakura House

2004

250 City Road

2026

EY Headquarters

2008

Bishops Square

2005

Cathay Pacific Lounges, Hong Kong International Airport

2013

Jameson House

2011

Hearst Headquarters

2006

Gerling Ring

2001

Bloomberg

2017

Maggie’s Manchester

2016

Flo, Lumina

2012

EVA, Lumina

2016

House in Japan

1992

Foster 525, Walter Knoll

2016

Izanami Motor Yacht

1995

Canary Wharf Underground Station

1999

Budenberg Haus, Urban Splash

2005

DATUM Tableware, FÜRSTENBERG

2022

Tia, Lumina

2019

Shelving X, UniFor

2023