International architecture firm with its own engineering and industrial design practice for buildings, infrastructure and master plans
Foster + Partners
London (GB) · New York City (US) · Hong Kong (HK) · Madrid (ES)New on Amplifa
About Foster + Partners
Foster + Partners is a British architecture firm founded by Norman Foster in 1967, headquartered in London with additional offices in New York City, Hong Kong and Madrid. The multidisciplinary practice covers architecture, an in-house engineering department for structural and environmental engineering, an industrial design studio for products such as furniture and lighting, as well as urban design and masterplanning. The range of services extends from residential, cultural and administrative buildings to offices and corporate headquarters and transport infrastructure, including the Millau Viaduct, Hong Kong Airport and Apple Park in Cupertino. Other well-known projects include the conversion of the Reichstag building in Berlin, the Great Court of the British Museum and 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin) in London. A key focus of the firm's work is sustainable architecture. As of 2021, the company employed around 1,500 staff; in 2024, annual revenue exceeded half a billion US dollars.
- Site
- London
- Processes
- Architecture, Engineering (structural, environmental), Industrial design (furniture, lighting), Urban design and masterplanning
- Materials
- Architecture, Engineering, Industrial design, Urban Design / Masterplanning
- Certificates
- Pritzker Architecture Prize, Stirling Prize
- Founded
- 1967
- Employees
- 1500
- Industries
- Architecture, Real estate, Transport infrastructure, Cultural buildings, Urban planning
- 01
Architectural design
- 02
Engineering (structural, environmental)
- 03
Urban design / masterplanning
- 04
Industrial design
- 05
Project supervision
Services and Disciplines
Architecture
Design and realisation of residential, cultural, administrative and infrastructure buildings.
Engineering
In-house practice for structural and environmental engineering.
Industrial design
Product development at commercial and independent scale, including furniture and lighting.
Urban Design / Masterplanning
Planning of large-scale urban and area developments, e.g. master plan for the reconstruction of Hatay province after the 2023 earthquakes.
Offices
London
GBHeadquarters
- Materials
- Architecture, engineering, industrial design, masterplanning
- The architecture studios
New York City
USOffice
Hong Kong
HKOffice
Madrid
ESOffice
Industries
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Organisation
The organisation is divided into six studios, each led by responsible partners; the firm's work has been awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize and the Stirling Prize multiple times.
| Evidence | London |
|---|---|
| Pritzker Architecture Prize | |
| Stirling Prize |
History
- 1967
Founded by Norman Foster as Foster Associates.
- 1978
Completion of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, the practice's first public building.
- 1979
Competition win for the HSBC headquarters in Hong Kong.
- 1992
Competition win for the conversion of the Reichstag building in Berlin.
- 1999
Renaming to Foster & Partners; completion of the Reichstag conversion.
- 2003
Staff divided into six studios headed by partners.
- 2004
Completion of 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin) and the Millau Viaduct.
- 2007
The private equity firm 3i acquires a stake.
- 2009
Commissioning of Apple Park in Cupertino by Steve Jobs.
- 2014
140 partners buy the company back from 3i.
- 2017
Opening of Apple Park.
- 2021
Hennick & Company becomes the largest single shareholder; Foster retains a controlling stake.
- 2025
Selected for the Memorial to Elizabeth II in London.