History
Martin Design, P.C. was founded in 1985 as a predecessor partnership by David F. Martin, AIA, who is president of the firm. From its beginning Martin Design has provided services to a diverse group of clients seeking a wide variety of buildings. Our portfolio includes churches, human service facilities, industrial and commercial sites, county conservation centers, residences, and historical renovations. Eastern Iowa and the Upper Midwest feature more than 1,000 projects that have been successfully designed or renovated by Martin Design.
Our clients include very large corporations as well as small businesses, public entities, religious organizations, non-profit agencies, and individual homeowners. We find that many of the lessons of architecture are universal and that expertise gained from the smaller project can be applied to the very large project.
Contact us for your design or master planning needs, whether it's an addition or renovation of an existing building, or a new, energy-efficient concept that you wish to explore.
Our Office
Since its founding, the business has been located in historically significant buildings of downtown Marion. Our current location is more than a century old and was formerly one of the principal banks in the community. Located on the corner of 7th Avenue (Hwy. 151) and 11th Street, we are surrounded by unique retail and artist's shops. Parking is available on 11th Street via 8th Avenue. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00-5:00 p.m., or by appointment.
Our Community
As a corporation and as individuals, we believe in connecting with and serving our community. We are fortunate to live here and be a part of the Eastern Iowa Technology Corridor, close to numerous arts and entertainment events in the Marion, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City Cultural Corridor, close to many recreational areas and activities, and still right in the middle of the richest agricultural area of the world?
For over ten years Martin Design has co-hosted a Chamber of Commerce event known as the Summer Fiesta Block Party. Our staff is active in MEDCO, The Marion Economic Development Company, and individually in service organizations such as Cedar Rapids Tuesday Noon Optimist Club, Marion Noon Lions Club, Marion Lodge #6, and Cedar Rapids DeMolay.
Ongoing activities to improve the community include participation in Marion Historic Preservation Commission, Marion Building Board of Appeals, 7th Avenue Corridor Redevelopment Plan, Imagine8, and Lions Iowa KidSite project. We routinely invite students into our office for job shadowing and mentoring opportunities.
What We Do
We tell you we are architects, but what does that really mean to you? Architects are trained professionals who have completed an accredited university course of study, have completed a monitored internship, passed an examination from a national standards agency, and have been licensed by the state to qualify to use the title of Architect. Anyone who has not completed all of these requirements cannot legally call themselves an architect in the same way that it is wrong to call yourself an attorney or a doctor.
How can we help?
Martin Design designs buildings. Sounds easy and we try to keep it that way for you. Let us untangle some of the confusion of codes, requirements, contractors, variances, and all of the other construction maze. We will keep you informed, let you stay in control, and stay within your budget.
Beyond this simple statement there is a whole world of what goes with that. Building starts with your idea that you need a building. Whether it is the smallest house or the largest industrial building, it all develops from a need that you want to satisfy. We begin at the very beginning with you. Often that is defining exactly what your need is. How big, where, and how much it will cost are all questions we seek to help you answer. We also try to help you plan for the future. Satisfying today's need is fine but looking to the future to anticipate growth will save time, money, and frustration. We call this master planning. Finding a site for your building is the job of you and your realtor, but we can help you evaluate the land you find. Once the building is designed, we can help you find the contractors you need to build your building. Along the way there are hundreds of tasks and decisions to be made.