He is a graduate of Yokohama National University, and is director of his own firm, Office of Ryue Nishizawa, established in 1997. In 1995, he co-founded the firm SANAA (Sejima and Nishizawa and Associates) with the architect Kazuyo Sejima. In 2010, he was awarded the Pritzker Prize, together with Sejima, making him the youngest recipient ever.