Ac Martin Partners

In an era of "starchitects" who jet off to design attention-getting international projects, each a variation on the same theme, it's difficult to describe a corporate design chief whose key contribution was working with clients and leading design teams. Albert C. Martin Jr., who died last week at 92, never settled into a signature style.

In an era of "starchitects" who jet off to design attention-getting international projects, each a variation on the same theme, it's difficult to describe a corporate design chief whose key contribution was working with clients and leading design teams. Albert C. Martin Jr., who died last week at 92, never settled into a signature style.

It's highly unusual for any family business to survive intact after three generations, let alone one involved in the highly volatile business of architecture. However, more than 90 years and three generations after its founding, one of Southern California's most prolific architectural firms--now known as AC Martin Partners--remains owned by the same family, with cousins David and Christopher Martin in charge as the only partners.

First, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, its earth tone walls reaching heavenward. Then the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a vision of undulating steel panels. And what comes next in the renaissance of Los Angeles' downtown Grand Avenue--a symbol, in the estimation of The Times' architecture critic, of the city's "growing stature as a place of genuine cultural depth"? Central Los Angeles High School No. 9! That's no joke.

Cousins and architects Christopher and David Martin are the third generation of Martins to run the family business, AC Martin Partners. They are proud of the family's architectural legacy--their grandfather designed Los Angeles City Hall--and they work together nearly every day, with David, 54, overseeing design and Christopher, 47, handling overall management. But that close relationship ends abruptly after work. Outside the office, the two Martins rarely see each other or socialize together.

First, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, its earth tone walls reaching heavenward. Then the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a vision of undulating steel panels. And what comes next in the renaissance of Los Angeles' downtown Grand Avenue--a symbol, in the estimation of The Times' architecture critic, of the city's "growing stature as a place of genuine cultural depth"? Central Los Angeles High School No. 9! That's no joke.

The long-awaited design of a $1-billion hotel and office skyscraper to be built in downtown Los Angeles -- soon to be tallest building in the West -- was unveiled Thursday by developer Korean Airlines. At 73 stories, the tower at Wilshire Boulevard and Figueroa Street will be a dramatic addition to the city skyline and a symbol of South Korea's growing status as a global economic powerhouse. The Wilshire Grand will slightly surpass in height the 72-story U.S. Bank Tower on Bunker Hill that has held the title of tallest west of Chicago since 1989.

Ambitious South Korean enterprises continue to make noise on the global economic stage. Electronics giant Samsung is giving Apple fits in markets across the globe with its hot-selling smartphones and tablets. Seoul-based Hyundai and Kia have been among the world's fastest-growing automakers in recent years. Portly singer Psy put South Korea on the pop culture map with his monster hit “Gangnam Style,” which has become the most popular video of all time on YouTube with nearly 1.3 billion views.

A team of designers led by HNTB and local firms Michael Maltzan Architecture and AC Martin Partners has won the design competition for a new, $401-million 6th Street bridge over the Los Angeles River, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced Friday morning. The existing bridge, built in 1932 and designed, like many of the city's most famous river spans, by city engineer Merrill Butler, is afflicted with a degenerative structural problem known as “concrete cancer” and needs to be replaced.

UCLA Extension will host two seminars titled "Taking the Fast Track in 1999: The New Year Real Estate Forecast," examining the impact of key 1998 legal developments and looking ahead at 1999 market conditions. The seminars will be at the Marriott in downtown Los Angeles on Jan. 6 and at the Doubletree Hotel in Costa Mesa on Jan. 7. Law firm Cox, Castle & Nicholson will look at legal issues affecting real estate and construction, and brokerage Grubb & Ellis will present its forecast for 1999.

It's highly unusual for any family business to survive intact after three generations, let alone one involved in the highly volatile business of architecture. However, more than 90 years and three generations after its founding, one of Southern California's most prolific architectural firms--now known as AC Martin Partners--remains owned by the same family, with cousins David and Christopher Martin in charge as the only partners.

Cousins and architects Christopher and David Martin are the third generation of Martins to run the family business, AC Martin Partners. They are proud of the family's architectural legacy--their grandfather designed Los Angeles City Hall--and they work together nearly every day, with David, 54, overseeing design and Christopher, 47, handling overall management. But that close relationship ends abruptly after work. Outside the office, the two Martins rarely see each other or socialize together.

Nicolai Ouroussoff's critique of the planned Performing and Visual Arts Academy in downtown L.A. ("The Bold School Try," June 8) misses the point of school architecture completely. He never once mentions the needs of the students. Isn't that who schools are designed for?

With work set to begin soon on a $1-billion luxury hotel in downtown Los Angeles, developer Korean Air revealed some details about the tower that is expected to dramatically alter the city's skyline. The skyscraper will be the second-tallest structure in Southern California at 70 stories, only slightly shorter than the US Bank Tower office building, said Yang Ho Cho, chairman of Korean Air. The design is still a work in progress, but guests are expected to be whisked by high-speed elevators to the lobby on the 70th floor, where they will check in. The top floor will also have a restaurant, bar and infinity swimming pool.