Muscoe Martin: 1955–2014

We first got to know Muscoe when he worked for Susan Maxman, FAIA, who, as the first woman president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1993, made environmentally responsible design a priority for the organization and the theme of its 1993 National Convention. Muscoe joined her firm in 1996 because of her commitment to the environment, and he was a key part of putting words into action at the firm, including some important projects like the visitors’ center at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Philadelphia, a wonderful example of pioneering sustainable design.

Muscoe left Susan Maxman and Associates in 2002, spent three years with Wallace, Roberts & Todd, LLC, and then in 2006 started his own firm, M2 Architecture, where he continued to focus on cutting-edge green design. Most recently, he had been involved with a Living Building Challenge project for the Alice Ferguson Foundation in Maryland, an addition and bio-pond for a Philadelphia residence, and the Water Research Education Center in Pennsylvania.

Although we first became acquainted with Muscoe because of his design work with Susan Maxman, it was through his extensive committee work with the U.S. Green Building Council and the AIA Committee on the Environment that we—and many others in the green building world—really got to know him and benefit from his brilliance as a collaborator. Muscoe and I overlapped on the USGBC National Board from 2003 to 2006. In addition, he served on the board of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council from 2006 to 2008; he co-chaired the program committees for the first three Greenbuild conferences; he served on the LEED for New Construction Core Committee from 2004 to 2006; he chaired the LEED Market Advisory Committee for 4-½  years (2007–2011); he served on the LEED Steering Committee from 2006 to 2011; and he served for seven years (2003–2010) with my colleague Nadav Malin as a LEED Faculty member. Muscoe was recognized as a LEED Fellow in the class of 2013.

With AIA, Muscoe served as co-chair of the Philadelphia Committee on the Environment (COTE) from 1994 to 1999 and then served on the national steering committee of the AIA COTE from 1997 to 2002, including a term as chair in 1999. In this role, he organized the Mainstreaming Green conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which could be considered one of the defining events of the emerging green building movement. It was here that many of us were first introduced to biomimicry.

Throughout this period, he also taught the next generation of architects as a lecturer for the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Architecture.

When I think of Muscoe, what comes to mind is his ever-cheery, unflappable demeanor and his facility with the latest gadgets. It was with him that I first witnessed someone finding a restaurant with a cell phone, getting directed to it, and calling to make a reservation—all while strolling down the street. Being something of a Luddite in the technology arena, I was amazed. I don’t think I had even graduated to a flip phone at that point.

In a letter of recommendation of Muscoe for his LEED Fellow application, Joel Ann Todd noted that “Muscoe is a quiet leader—his ego doesn’t get in the way of his leadership. He leads by example, by his expertise, and by his commitment.  He believes in collaboration and processes that bring out the best in all team or committee members.”

I speak for Nadav and others at BuildingGreen, as well as many others in the green building world, in saying how much we will miss Muscoe and his calm, disarming wisdom. He left us way too soon!

A memorial service was held January 10 at St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia. Muscoe’s wife, Jennifer Pinto-Martin, asks that donations in Muscoe’s name be made to Breakthrough Bike Challenge, the research fundraising organization that she co-founded in Philadelphia.