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.

Budenberg Haus, Urban Splash

2005

Beijing Capital International Airport

2008

Index Tower

2011

Steve Jobs Theater

2017

Buenos Aires Ciudad Casa de Gobierno

2015

House in Japan

1992

EY Headquarters

2008

Djanogly City Academy

2005

Bilbao Metro

1995

McLaren Production Centre

2011

Apple Park

2018

Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Headquarters

1986

Maggie’s Manchester

2016

Red Dot Design Museum

1997

American Air Museum

1997

Petronas University of Technology

2004

Cove, Poltrona Frau

2018

Nanshan Technology Finance City

2019

ME London

2013

Hearst Headquarters

2006

Izanami Motor Yacht

1995

Kamakura House

2004

Arcoris Mont' Kiara

2019

McLaren Technology Centre

2004

OVO Hydro

2013

Canary Wharf Underground Station

1999

Deutsche Bank Place

2005

Yacht Club de Monaco

2014

Marine Simulator Centre

1993

The Troika

2011