Albert Carey Martin (September 16, 1879 – April 9, 1960) was an American architect and engineer. He founded the firm Albert C. Martin & Associates, now known as A.C. Martin Partners, and designed numerous landmark buildings in Southern California. Martin also developed a system of reinforced concrete construction, along with reinforced brick masonry.

Early life and education Martin was born in LaSalle, Illinois on September 18, 1879. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in architectural engineering from the University of Illinois in 1902.

Career Martin began his career as a draftsman at Brown-Ketcham Iron Works in Indianapolis, Indiana. He also worked 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, then worked as an engineer for Alfred Rosenheim. Martin formed his own firm, Albert C. Martin & Associates, in 1906.

Martin developed a system of reinforced concrete construction in 1907 and a method of reinforced brick masonry in 1933, both of which were meant to help safeguard buildings against earthquakes.

Recognition In 1959, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce awarded Martin its annual "Man of Achievement" award, in recognition for his contributions to the development of Los Angeles.

List of works Martin and his associates designed an estimated 1,500 buildings. His notable buildings include:

In Los Angeles

2nd Church of Christ, Scientist (1908) Higgins Building (1910), LAHCM No. 873 Million Dollar Theater (1917), LAHCM No. 1184, NRHP-listed Sunset Pier Recreation Complex (1921) Desmond's Building (1924), LAHCM No. 1207, NRHP-listed St. Vincent's Catholic Church (1925), LAHCM No. 90 Queen of Angels Hospital (1926) Los Angeles City Hall (1928), with John Parkinson and John C. Austin, LAHCM No. 150 Brunswig Drug Company Factory (1931) Lincoln High School (1937 reconstruction) May Company Wilshire (1939), LAHCM No. 566 Union Hardware Building (1947)

Elsewhere in California

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Fresno (1913) Ventura County Courthouse, Ventura (1913), NRHP-listed St. Monica Catholic Church, Santa Monica (1926) Furnace Creek Inn, Death Valley (1935), NRHP-listed Lakewood Center, Lakewood (1952) Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital, Inglewood (1954)

Personal life and death Martin married Carolyn E. Borchard (February 21, 1883–June 9, 1959)California Death Index, Name: Carolyn Elizabeth Martin, Birth Date: 02-21-1883, Mother's Maiden Name: Kaufman, Father's Last: Borchard, Sex: Female, Birth Place: California, Death Place: Los Angeles (19), Death Date: 06-09-1959, SSN: 548-52-4154, Age: 76 yrs. in Oxnard, California on October 16, 1907. They had six children, including architect Albert C. Martin Jr., who went into business with his father, and J. Edward Martin (October 23, 1916 – November 22, 2004), a structural engineer who assumed management of his father's firm after World War II.Tony Illia L.A. Architect Albert C. Martin Dies April 17, 2006 Architectural Record

Albert C. Martin died at age 80 in Los Angeles.California Death Index, Name: Albert C. Martin, Birth Date: 09-16-1879, Mother's Maiden Name: Carey, Sex: Male, Birth Place: Illinois, Death Place: Los Angeles (70), Death Date: 04-09-1960, SSN: 548-52-4154, Age: 80 yrs.

References

External links

AC Martin Partners drawings and records on microfilm, 1906-2006, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. Accession No. 2015.M.14.