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.

Djanogly City Academy

2005

Shanghai Jiushi Corporation

2001

Masdar Institute

2015

Canary Wharf Underground Station

1999

PwC, More London

2009

Century Tower

1991

Deutsche Bank Place

2005

Carré d'Art

1992

Free University

2005

The Murezzan

2007

Maggie’s Manchester

2016

EY Headquarters

2008

Red Dot Design Museum

1997

Chesham Place

2008

Izanami Motor Yacht

1995

Faena House

2015

425 Park Avenue

2022

Arcoris Mont' Kiara

2019

Hotel Silken Puerta América

2005

Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building

2006

Elephant House, Copenhagen Zoo

2008

Bishops Square

2005

Kamakura House

2004

Lumiere Apartments

2007

American Air Museum

1997

The Troika

2011

Apple Park

2018

50 United Nations Plaza

2015

Masdar City

2014

UAE Pavilion Milan Expo 2015

2015