fˈɑːstɚ wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn pˈɪtsbɜːɡ ænd ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾᵻd æt ðə pɹˈæt ˈɪnstɪtˌuːt skˈuːl ʌv ˈɑːɹkɪtˌɛktʃɚ, ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti, ænd wʌz hˈaɪɚd ˌɪntʊ fˈɪlɪp dʒˈɑːnsənz ˈɑːfɪs dᵻɹˈɛktli ˌaʊɾəv skˈuːl.
Foster was born in Pittsburgh and educated at the Pratt Institute School of Architecture, graduated in 1950, and was hired into Philip Johnson's office directly out of school.