History
Martin Design and Gardner Architecture share a long history of serving eastern Iowa. Martin Design started 25 years ago. Gardner Architecture started 27 years ago. Both practices have provided quality services to a diverse group of clients, using a wide range of building types, and variety of construction delivery methods. Our clients have ranged from large corporations; start up businesses, social service agencies, local governments, schools, and churches. Both businesses were started with a concern for our environment and a commitment to save resources, whether building materials or energy.
The merger of Gardner Architecture into Martin Design in January of 2010 brought an enlarged service area to both offices. While the two names continue, the company has truly become one. Projects, resources, and personnel are already being integrated between the offices. A call to either office enlists the efforts of both to accomplish your goals.
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 building design, building addition, or master planning needs. Whether it is a small addition or a complex of new buildings, we can help you to create a logical, energy-efficient building that can grow with you and your needs.
Our Office
Since its founding in 1985 Martin Design has been a part of historic uptown Marion. Our current southern office location is in the historic First National Bank Building and is now a part of a National Historic Register District. Located on the corner of 11th Street and 7th Avenue (business highway 151) we love our old building. High ceilings, big windows, and lots of character describe just a bit of what this building is about. It also is consistent with our desire to reuse old buildings whenever possible. It is just one of many older structures that we have adapted for new uses.
Our northern office is the absolute definition of rustic Iowa. Located on 15 acres in rural Clayton County, the office building is a salvaged barn that was moved to the site. Fully renovated and refurbished, it provides an idyllic place to design buildings. It is also just a mile from the north gate of Backbone State Park, one of northeast Iowa’s premiere recreational areas, and two miles from the infamous giant strawberry that tops the Strawberry Point city hall.
Our Community
As a business and as individuals, we believe in serving our community to build a better place for all of us to live. At our southern office, we individually all participate in service clubs, church committees, city or county commissions or committees, and other non-profit organizations. We belong to the Marion Economic Development Company, Marion Chamber of Commerce, Priority One, and several professional organizations. At our northern office the guys participate in their communities through city and county committees or commissions, school activities, and we even have one volunteer firefighter.
Visit us in Marion for our annual Block Party. Farmers State Bank and us close down the street in front of our office and have an evening of food and fun with a Mexican theme. See you July 15 from 5 to 7 PM!
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?
We design 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.