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.

Bilbao Metro

1995

250 City Road

2026

Buenos Aires Ciudad Casa de Gobierno

2015

Plinth for ‘Martyrs’ installation

2015

National Bank of Kuwait

2020

EVA, Lumina

2016

California State University Channel Islands

2008

Shelving X, UniFor

2023

Orsa, Artemide

2016

Wind Turbine

1995

Hearst Headquarters

2006

ILE, Benchmark

2024

Deutsche Bank Place

2005

Soft Cells, Kvadrat Acoustics

2004

Supreme Court Singapore

2005

Ori, Danese Milano

2025

OVO Hydro

2013

Foster 520, Walter Knoll

2012

Century Tower

1991

EY Headquarters

2008

FT, Trapex

2004

20-06 Emeco

2006

Vea, Artemide

2024

Lumiere Apartments

2007

Gabriela Hearst store furniture

2019

Foster 620, Walter Knoll

2018

McLaren Production Centre

2011

Arcoris Mont' Kiara

2019

Node, Lindner Parc

2017

Tono, Porcelanosa

2016