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

OVO Hydro

2013

Join, Isokon

2025

Table Y, UniFor

2023

Flo, Lumina

2012

Node, Lindner Parc

2017

Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building

2006

Carré d'Art

1992

Jameson House

2011

Foster 500/505 series, Walter Knoll

2006

Index Tower

2011

ILE, Benchmark

2024

Steve Jobs Theater

2017

Gerling Ring

2001

Elephant House, Copenhagen Zoo

2008

Le Dôme Winery

2021

Hearst Headquarters

2006

Deutsche Bank Place

2005

Chesham Place

2008

American Air Museum

1997

Hoy, Artemide

2018

Supreme Court Singapore

2005

Foster 525, Walter Knoll

2016

Djanogly City Academy

2005

Masdar City

2014

EVE, Lumina

2019

Desk Z, UniFor

2023

Center for Clinical Science Research, Stanford University

2000

Wind Turbine

1995

Foster Collection, Stelton

2018

LG SIGNATURE OLED TV R, LG Electronics

2019