Albert C. Martin, Sr.

Albert C. Martin
Born	September 16, 1879 LaSalle, Illinois, USA
Died	April 9, 1960 (aged 80) Los Angeles, California, USA
Nationality	American
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Los Angeles City Hall St. Vincent de Paul Church May Company Department Store (Wilshire Bl.) Million Dollar Theater Ventura County Courthouse

Albert Carey Martin (September 16, 1879 – April 9, 1960) 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 concrete construction, along with reinforced brick masonry.^[1]

Early career

Born in LaSalle, Illinois, 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.^[2] He worked in his early career in steel and iron for the Pennsylvania Railroad and Cambria Steel Company.^[2]

In 1904, Martin moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a construction superintendent for Carl Leonardt & Company.^[2] He next went to work as an engineer for Alfred Rosenheim, one of the city's leading architects.^[2]

Architectural career in Los Angeles

St. Vincent's Catholic Church

Saint Monica Catholic Church

Los Angeles City Hall

May Company Department Store

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 (February 21, 1883–June 9, 1959)^[3][4] 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 (October 23, 1916 – November 22, 2004), a structural engineer who assumed management of the firm after World War II.^[5]

Martin's notable buildings include:

• 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.^[6]
• Ventura County Courthouse — Martin's Roman Doric courthouse, built from 1911 to 1912 in Ventura, California,^[7] 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.
• St. Alphonsus Catholic Church — Martin designed this historic church in Fresno, California in 1913.
• Million Dollar Theater (Sid Grauman's Million Dollar Theatre) (1917) — 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, at 307 South Broadway.
• 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.^[8] 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."^[9] 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."^[10] It was the city's tallest building for three decades.^[5]

The historic May Company Building (now part of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

• May Company Wilshire department store (1939)^[5][11] was one of Martin's last landmark structures. The building is located in the Miracle Mile district on Wilshire Boulevard.

Recognition and later life

In all, Martin and his associates designed some 1,500 buildings.^[1] 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.^[12] 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.^[12]

Albert C. Martin died at age 80 in Los Angeles.^[1][13] The firm he founded, now known as A.C. Martin Partners, has continued as one of the city's leading architectural firms,^[14] 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.

References

1. "Albert C. Martin Sr., 80, Noted Architect, Dies: Design of Many Notable Buildings was Chamber's Man of Achievement in '59". Los Angeles Times. 1960-04-10.
2. "Albert C. Martin". Historic Fresno.
3. 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.
4. "Mrs. Albert C. Martin, Wife of Architect, Dies". Los Angeles Times. 1959-06-10.
5. Tony Illia L.A. Architect Albert C. Martin Dies April 17, 2006 Architectural Record
6. Cecilia Rasmussen (2006-11-19). "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". Los Angeles Times.
7. "Ventura County's Quarter-Million-Dollar Courthouse". Los Angeles Times. 1911-04-22.
8. "Deadlock on Architects: Public Works Board Selects Own City Hall Firm; Parley With Council Fails of Compromise". Los Angeles Times. 1925-03-03.
9. "High City Hall Need Explained: Architect Says Plan Means Saving to Taxpayer; Realty Board Members Told of High-Tower Value". Los Angeles Times. 1926-04-18.
10. "Hall Architects Praised: Works Board Commends Trio for Design and Speed in Erecting New City Offices". Los Angeles Times. 1928-03-27.
11. May Company
12. "Albert C. Martin, Sr. Awarded C of C Plaque". Los Angeles Times. 1959-05-19.
13. 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.
14. "Home Page". AC Martin Partners.