Joseph Martinez

President / Principal Architect

Joseph Martinez received his Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University in 1975 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at San Diego in 1971. He is a founding principal of Martinez + Cutri Corporation with headquarters in San Diego; since its inception in 1980, he has directed the firm’s educational and resort divisions.

Some of his award-winning projects include Cesar Chavez Elementary and Rancho del Rey Middle School, as well as the Logan Heights Library. Other educational facilities include San Ysidro High School, along the international border (Mexico-USA), Otay Ranch High School in a new planned residential community, the Cesar E. Chavez College Campus in Barrio Logan, and in the inner-city, the new Lincoln High School. Some of his planning projects include the Oceanside Strand Master Plan (APA and AIA Award recipien) Bosque de las Aracarias, Mexico, and Pacific Gateway Master Plan, san Diego embarcadero. His housing projects include Fort Mac Arthur Family Housing for the United States Air Force, San Pedro; Canterbury Court, Chula Vista; Cedar Road Apartments, Vista; and Morena Vista TOD mixed-use development. Moreover, his resort projects include: The Millennium, Seaport Tower, Ritz-Carlton Harbor Island and San Diego Marriott Tower Three; his Grand Hyatt Regency Hotel along the San Diego Embarcadero has recently been completed. Currently, he is designing two luxury resorts in Mexico.

In addition to his private practice, Mr. Martinez taught architecture and urbanism from 1978 to 1993 at the University of California, Berkeley, San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, and The New School of Architecture. He has participated in various forums, symposia and lectures, including programs by the AIA, CEFPI and was a member of the jury for American Schools & Universities. In 2001, he was the Program Chair for the AIA/Committee on Architectural Education and National School Board Association Conference on “Sustainable Schools: Sustainable Communities”. Recently, two of his school projects were published in “AIA: Exemplary Learning Environments.” Similarly, he has served on a numerous boards and commissions, including a gubernatorial appointee to the San Diego Regional Government Efficiency commission, Qualcomm Stadium Advisory Board, NTC Arts & Culture Foundation, the San Diego Dialogue, the Mariachi Foundation, and CONVIS. In 1984, Mr. Martinez was named UCSD’s Alumni of the Year, and in 1985 he was named Centennial Alumni. Similarly, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. awarded him The Jessie de la Cruz Lifetime Community Service Award at their 2005 San Diego Tardeada Event. More recently The Barrio Station, San Diego awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award for dedication to the Chicanx Community.