David Thompson

David Thompson is the firmwide CO-CEO of SWA and the Managing Principal of SWA’s Shanghai Studio. He is a landscape architect and urban designer who finds inspiration in the cultural, social, and environmental influences that shape contemporary cities.

His particular interest is helping cities realize the potential of forgotten or challenged urban sites and he has participated in many vital transformations. Building on the unique characteristics that distinguish each site, David considers how design can reveal an authentic narrative for the place and elevate the richness of experience. This interest has led to project work in many parts of the world and at a variety of scales. His approach engages the essence of a place, whether design of an agrarian community that showcases the cultural arts of ethnic minorities in China’s Yunnan province, the reclamation of an industrial site and creation of a new town along the banks of the Moscow River, or the transformation of a toxic superfund site into one of Dallas’s iconic urban entertainment centers. David also works closely with leaders of tech companies to determine how outdoor spaces can enhance the vitality of work culture and meet their vision of environmental stewardship.

David has participated in China’s unprecedented transformation for almost 20 years. The various private and public projects he has led in locations throughout the country have become models of best practices for development, and include Asia’s first LEED-ND Platinum community. Current work includes OCT Baoan Waterfront Park, TenCent Headquarters Campus, Henyang Waterfront Park, Shenzhen Dong Hu Park, Kunming Fuxian Lake Art Valley and Hangzhou Grand Canal Industrial Core Renovation. His work focuses on creating livable cities that reflect who we are, how we live and the collective values that we share.