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

Bilbao Metro

1995

California State University Channel Islands

2008

The Corniche

2019

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

1978

Gerling Ring

2001

Steve Jobs Theater

2017

Maggie’s Manchester

2016

House in Corsica

1993

Free University

2005

ICÔNE

2023

Buenos Aires Ciudad Casa de Gobierno

2015

Hankook Technoplex

2020

JCDecaux Headquarters

2000

Center for Clinical Science Research, Stanford University

2000

Fortaleza Hall and the Commons

2010

Duisburg masterplan

2007

Queen Alia International Airport

2012

Alen Yacht 68

2014

The Murezzan

2007

Masdar City

2014

House in Japan

1992

World Port Centre

2000

The YachtPlus Fleet

2009

UAE Pavilion Milan Expo 2015

2015

Shanghai Bund Riverside

2020

Yacht Club de Monaco

2014

World Trade Center Souk

2014

Turin University

2013

Datong Art Museum

2021

The Troika

2011