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.
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.
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.
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.
Martin and his associates designed an estimated 1,500 buildings. His notable buildings include:
Martin married Carolyn E. Borchard (February 21, 1883–June 9, 1959) 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 â November 22, 2004), a structural engineer who assumed management of his father's firm after World War II.
Albert C. Martin died at age 80 in Los Angeles.