Albert C. Martin, Sr.

Infobox Architect


name=Albert C. Martin, Sr.
mother=
father=
nationality= American
birth_date=1869
birth_place=
death_date=1960
death_place= Los Angeles, California
significant_buildings=Ventura County Courthouse
Million Dollar Theater
Los Angeles City Hall
St. Vincent's Catholic Church
May Co. (Wilshire Blvd.)
significant_projects=
awards=|

Albert C. Martin, Sr. (1879–1960) was an American architect and engineer who founded the architectural firm of Albert C. Martin & Associates, now known as AC Martin Partners, in 1907 and designed some of Southern California's landmark buildings. He is also credited with developing a system of reinforced concrete construction, along with reinforced brick masonry.

Early career

Martin received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois and began his career as a draftsman at Brown-Ketcham Iron Works in Indianapolis, Indiana. He worked in his early career in steel and iron for the Pennsylvania Railroad and Cambria Steel Company. Martin moved to Los Angeles in 1904 where he worked as a construction superintendent for Carl Leonardt & Company. He next went to work as an engineer for Alfred Rosenheim, one of the city's leading architects.cite web|title=Albert C. Martin|publisher=Historic Fresno|url=http://historicfresno.org/bio/acmartin.htm]

Architectural career in Los Angeles

Martin formed his own firm in 1907. His firm went on to become one of the most prominent architectural firms in Los Angeles. Martin's notable buildings include:

* [http://www.you-are-here.com/downtown/higgins.html Thomas Higgins Building] — Completed in 1911 at 2nd and Main Streets, the 10-story Higgins Building was built by copper tycoon Thomas Higgins. Early tenants included Clarence Darrow, General Petroleum and the chancery office of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. [cite news|author=Cecilia Rasmussen|title=L.A. Then and Now: Higgins Building was a shining showpiece; The structure at 2nd and Main was built by a copper tycoon; The neighborhood soon fell on hard times, but now is making a comeback|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2006-11-19]
* Ventura County Courthouse — Martin's Roman Doric courthouse, built from 1911 to 1912 in Ventura, California, [cite news|title=Ventura County's Quarter-Million-Dollar Courthouse|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1911-04-22] was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, becoming the second building in Ventura County to be added to the National Register.
* [http://historicfresno.org/photo/alphons.htm St. Alphonsus Catholic Church] — Martin designed this historic church in Fresno, California in 1913.
* Million Dollar Theater — While the auditorium was designed by William L. Woollett, Martin designed the twelve-story tower that houses the theater. The building long housed the original headquarters of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
* [http://bigorangelandmarks.blogspot.com/2007/11/no-90-st-vincent-de-paul-church.html St. Vincent's Catholic Church] — Located in the West Adams district, St. Vincent's and its dome are one of the most recognized churches in Los Angeles.
* St. Monica Catholic Church — Built in Santa Monica from 1925 to 1926, this church was featured in the 1944 film classic "Going My Way" with Bing Crosby. It is also the home parish of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The parish hall, built in 1998, was designed by Frank Gehry.
* Los Angeles City Hall — Martin was also one of three prominent local architects, along with John Parkinson and John C. Austin, hired to design what has become the most recognized building in Los Angeles. The selection of an architect for the city hall led to fierce competition among the city's leading architects. The City Council selected the firm of Curlett and Beelman, but the Board of Public Works opted instead to hire a trio of the city's top architects in Martin, Parkinson, and Austin. [cite news|title=Deadlock on Architects: Public Works Board Selects Own City Hall Firm; Parley With Council Fails of Compromise|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1925-03-03] Controversy continued when the architects turned in drawings for 28-story tower to house a muncipal government that could adequately fit into the first four floors. In April 1926, Martin spoke in support of the design. Martin said: "The tower, one of the most efficient parts of the structure, will care for future growth. This tower, in fact, has a three-fold advantage — it gives the building a distinctly beautiful profile, eliminates the possibility of Los Angeles having to spend money in a few years to house the city's business, and admits of a maximum of outside office space."cite news|title=High City Hall Need Explained: Architect Says Plan Means Saving to Taxpayer; Realty Board Members Told of High-Tower Value|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1926-04-18] The city ultimately accepted the tower plan, and in March 1928 the Board of Public Works passed a resolution commending the architects "for the eminently satisfactory and beautiful design of the monumental building." [cite news|title=Hall Architects Praised: Works Board Commends Trio for Design and Speed in Erecting New City Offices|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1928-03-27]
* [http://www.you-are-here.com/building/may.html May Company] — One of Martin's last landmark structures was the sleek May Company store in the Miracle Mile district on Wilshire Boulevard.

Recognition and later life

In all, Martin and his associates designed some 1,500 buildings. In 1959, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce recognized Martin for his contributions to the development of Los Angeles, by awarding him its annual "man of achievement" award.cite news|title=Albert C. Martin, Sr. Awarded C of C Plaque|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1959-05-19] Martin's achievements included development of a system of reinforced concrete construction in 1907 and developing a method of reinforced brick masonry in 1933 to help safeguard the city's buildings against earthquakes.

Martin's wife died in June 1959, [cite news|title=Mrs. Albert C. Martin, Wife of Architect, Dies|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1959-06-10] and Martin died of a stroke in April 1960.cite news|title=Albert C. Martin Sr., 80, Noted Architect, Dies: Design of Many Notable Buildings was Chamber's Man of Achievement in '59|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1960-04-10] The firm founded by Martin, now known as AC Martin Partners, has continued as one of the city's leading architectural firms, [cite web|title=Home Page|publisher=AC Martin Partners|url=http://www.acmartin.com/nav_page.html] and Martin's son, Albert C. Martin, Jr. one of its leading architects.

References