Albert C. Martin Sr.
Albert C. Martin | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 16, 1879 |
| Died | April 9, 1960 (aged 80) |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois |
| 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 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.[1]
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.[2]
Career
Martin began his career as a draftsman at Brown-Ketcham Iron Works in Indianapolis, Indiana.[3] He also worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and Cambria Steel Company.[3]
Martin moved to Los Angeles in 1904, where he worked as a construction superintendent for Carl Leonardt & Company,[3] then worked as an engineer for Alfred Rosenheim.[3] 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.[4]
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.[4]
List of works
Martin and his associates designed an estimated 1,500 buildings.[1] His notable buildings include:
In Los Angeles
- 2nd Church of Christ, Scientist (1908)[5]
- Higgins Building (1910),[5][6] LAHCM #873
- Million Dollar Theater (1917), LAHCM #1184, NRHP-listed[5]
- Sunset Pier Recreation Complex (1921)[5]
- Desmond's Building (1924),[7] LAHCM #1207, NRHP-listed
- St. Vincent's Catholic Church (1925),[5] LAHCM #90
- Queen of Angels Hospital (1926)[8]
- Los Angeles City Hall (1928), with John Parkinson and John C. Austin,[5][9][10] LAHCM #150
- Brunswig Drug Company Factory (1931)[5]
- Lincoln High School (1937 reconstruction)[11]
- May Company Wilshire (1939),[5][10] LAHCM #566
- Union Hardware Building (1947)[5]
Elsewhere in California
- St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Fresno (1913)[12]
- Ventura County Courthouse, Ventura (1913),[13] NRHP-listed[5]
- St. Monica Catholic Church, Santa Monica (1926)[5]
- Furnace Creek Inn, Death Valley (1935), NRHP-listed[14]
- Lakewood Center, Lakewood (1952)[5]
- Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital, Inglewood (1954)[5]
Personal life and death
Martin married Carolyn E. Borchard (February 21, 1883–June 9, 1959)[15][16] 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.[10]
Albert C. Martin died at age 80 in Los Angeles.[1][17]
References
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ AC Martin Partners drawings and records on microfilm, 1960-2006. Getty Research Institute.
- ^ a b c d "Albert C. Martin". Historic Fresno.
- ^ a b "Albert C. Martin Sr. Awarded C of C Plaque". Los Angeles Times. 1959-05-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Michelson, Alan. "Albert Carey Martin Sr. (Architect)". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. University of Washington. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Gray, Olive (September 16, 1924). "New Desmond Store Opened". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Berne, Miles (1947). "Queen of Angels Hospital chapel".
- ^ "Hall Architects Praised: Works Board Commends Trio for Design and Speed in Erecting New City Offices". Los Angeles Times. 1928-03-27.
- ^ a b c Tony Illia [1] L.A. Architect Albert C. Martin Dies April 17, 2006 Architectural Record
- ^ "Lincoln High School". Los Angeles Conservancy. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "St. Alphonsus Catholic Church (Fresno, California)". May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008.
- ^ "Ventura County's Quarter-Million-Dollar Courthouse". Los Angeles Times. 1911-04-22.
- ^ "The Inn at Death Valley". National Park Service. December 30, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Mrs. Albert C. Martin, Wife of Architect, Dies". Los Angeles Times. 1959-06-10.
- ^ 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.
External links
- AC Martin Partners drawings and records on microfilm, 1906-2006, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. Accession No. 2015.M.14.