J. Edward Martin, 88; Led Family Architectural Firm

J. Edward Martin, a structural engineer who helped shape the face of downtown Los Angeles as a partner in one of the city’s historic architectural firms, has died. He was 88.

Martin died Monday of old age at his home in Bradbury, according to a statement from his family’s architectural firm, AC Martin Partners.

Since it was founded in 1906 by Martin’s father, Albert C. Martin Sr., the firm has designed a number of familiar buildings in Los Angeles, including the Million Dollar Theater on Broadway; the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Building on Hope Street; Arco Plaza on South Flower Street; and the Union Bank Building at 5th Street and Figueroa.

In addition, the senior Martin collaborated with John C. Austin, John and Donald Parkinson and Austin Whittlesey in the design of Los Angeles City Hall in the late 1920s.

The firm’s impact was such that a 1979 Times article credited it with erecting more than 50% of all the major buildings in downtown Los Angeles since World War II.

Martin, along with his brother Albert Jr., represented the second generation to run the family business, taking over management of the firm after World War II. Edward ran the management division of the firm, while Albert was the community and design expert. Edward Martin served as managing director until 1986 and remained active as partner emeritus until his retirement in 1997. The firm is now co-chaired by Edward’s son Christopher C. Martin and Albert’s son David C. Martin.

For his part, J. Edward Martin pioneered efforts to use computers to analyze earthquake stresses on high-rise buildings.

The Union Bank Building was among the first locally designed buildings to use a computer to model earthquake data.

Born in Los Angeles on Oct. 23, 1916, Martin attended USC, but graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering in 1939. He served as a lieutenant in the Navy’s Civil Engineering Corps during World War II.

In recognition of his contributions to the industry, the Structural Engineers Assn. of Southern California awarded Martin its lifetime achievement award in 1996.

Martin was a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the board of governors of Thomas Aquinas College and was a founding member of the board of counselors of USC’s School of Medicine.

In addition to his brother Albert and son Christopher, Martin is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth; children Sally, Lisa, Nick and Peter; and a sister, Lucille.

Funeral services are today at St. Andrews Catholic Church, 311 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena.