Albert Carey Martin was an American architect and engineer. He founded the architectural firm of Albert C. Martin & Associates, now known as A.C. Martin Partners, and designed some of Southern California's landmark buildings. Martin is also credited with developing a system of reinforced concreteconstruction, along with reinforced brick masonry.
Martin formed his own firm, Albert C. Martin & Associates, in 1906. His firm went on to become one of the most prominent architectural firms in Los Angeles. On October 16, 1907, he and Carolyn E. Borchard were married in Oxnard, California. They had six children, including architect Albert C. Martin Jr., who went into business with his father, and J. Edward Martin, a structural engineer who assumed management of the firm after World War II. Martin's notable buildings include:
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. Controversy continued when the architects turned in drawings for 28-story tower to house a municipal 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." 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." It was the city's tallest building for three decades.
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. Martin's achievements included development of a system of reinforced concrete construction in 1907 and development of a method of reinforced brick masonry in 1933 to help safeguard the city's buildings against earthquakes. Albert C. Martin died at age 80 in Los Angeles. The firm he founded, now known as A.C. Martin Partners, has continued as one of the city's leading architectural firms, and Martin's son, Albert C. Martin Jr., was one of its leading architects. A.C. Martin is now helmed by Albert, Jr.'s son, David C. Martin, and nephew, Christopher C. Martin.
