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

Cordoba Chair, B&B Italia

2022

1292, FSB

2024

Hearst Headquarters

2006

Hoy, Artemide

2018

Gather, Escofet

2024

Izanami Motor Yacht

1995

Hotel Silken Puerta América

2005

Join, Isokon

2025

Elements, UniFor

2014

Century Tower

1991

Samson Pavilion, CWRU and Cleveland Clinic

2019

Foster 520, Walter Knoll

2012

Ori, Danese Milano

2025

Cathay Pacific Lounges, Hong Kong International Airport

2013

250 City Road

2026

NF Collection, Karimoku

2022

Lumiere Apartments

2007

Index Tower

2011

Kamakura House

2004

Maggie’s Manchester

2016

LG SIGNATURE OLED TV R, LG Electronics

2019

Red Dot Design Museum

1997

Foster 512, Walter Knoll

2016

Masdar Institute

2015

Vea, Artemide

2024

House in Japan

1992

Soft Cells, Kvadrat Acoustics

2004

DATUM Tableware, FÜRSTENBERG

2022

Capsule, Carpyen

2022

OVO, Benchmark

2018