Well-dressed man in suit and hat stands with one foot on a metal roof ridge, gazing across a flat, sparsely built landscape of hangars, small buildings and dirt roads.

History & Legacy

Martin/Martin is a full-service civil and structural engineering firm, headquartered in the Denver area, built on experience and industry leadership cultivated since the 1940s. Our engineered solutions are developed through a culture of integrity, service, creativity, and quality for the benefit of our clients and the community.

A horizontal timeline bar shows a firm's name changes across decades on an axis from 1945 to 2020. Text: Milo S. Ketchum; Ketchum & Konkel; Ketchum, Konkel & Hastings; Ketchum, Konkel, Ryan & Fleming; Ketchum, Konkel, Ryan & Hastings; Ketchum, Konkel, Barrett, Nickel, Austin; Martin/Martin, Inc.; 1945 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Origins: 1945 and the Predecessor Firm

Founded in 1945 by structural engineer Milo Ketchum, our firm began with a clear focus on thoughtful, rigorous engineering and trusted partnership with architects, builders, and owners. Over time, that early practice evolved into KKBNA (Ketchum Konkel Barrett Nickel Austin) carrying forward a reputation for technical excellence, integrity, and solutions that helped shape the built environment. From the beginning, our ethos was simple: do the work the right way, serve people well, and deliver engineering that stands the test of time.

An elderly man with glasses and a tie sits facing the camera, offering a faint smile; bookshelves filled with volumes form the blurred background, suggesting a study or office.

Founder Spotlight: Milo Ketchum

Milo S. Ketchum (1910–1999) was a Denver-born structural engineer and educator whose work helped set a new standard for innovative structural design in the region and beyond. After earning his BS (1931) and MS (1932) in civil engineering, he went on to establish his own consulting practice in 1945. Widely regarded as an authority on folded-plate and thin-shell roof structures, Ketchum was known for pushing structural forms that were both efficient and expressive, and he lectured broadly throughout his career. He later joined academia full-time and became a professor of civil engineering at the University of Connecticut, influencing generations of engineers.

Three-story atrium filled with potted plants, office workers looking over railings and seated around tables; open balconies and desks line the interior of a bright, multi-level corporate workspace. Transcribed text: The Denver headquarters of KKBNA features a completely enclosed three story atrium surrounded by work areas. Growing plants within the atrium are an essential part of the building's interior design. The layout permits each of the firm's engineers and draftsmen to have a window at his workplace. The building, constructed with the use of site-cast, stack-cast concrete walls and floors, reflects the company's dedication to function and economy.

Building a Legacy: Early Impact in Denver and Beyond

In the decades after World War II ended in 1945, Denver experienced a surge of growth, and KKBNA’s early work helped meet that moment with ambitious, modern structures. During this era, the firm contributed to notable regional landmarks including the 1958 Ketchum Building (a local early example of thin-shell concrete), the Broadmoor International Center (1961) in Colorado Springs, Currigan Exhibition Hall (completed 1969) which was recognized for its vast column-free space and innovative space-frame approach, and McNichols Sports Arena (opened 1975). This same period was shaped by forces that influenced what cities built and how, like the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (which accelerated interstate construction and metro expansion), the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969 (an emblem of mid-century engineering optimism), and the 1973 oil crisis that reshaped development and energy priorities across the U.S.

Massive curved hangar opens, revealing internal scaffolding; vehicles and piled cargo sit on a tarmac in front under a cloudy sky.
The historic TWA Hangar project in construction

Early Years: Projects + Company Photos (1945–1980s)

Ketchum & Konkel office, late 1950s
Same collaborative mindset as the late 1950s; now with more technology to connect teams and deliver work efficiently.
Currigan Exhibition Hall
International Center at the Broadmoor
Ideal Cement Hangar (#61), Stapleton
KKBNA softball team
An older man wearing a white hard hat smiles at the camera, standing at a construction site beside exposed concrete framing, with a tall classical city tower and office buildings behind him. Text on hard hat: "MARTIN &" and "JOHN A. MARTIN & ASSOCIATES, INC." (other small equipment text not legible)
John A. Martin, founder of JAMA and MAG

A Defining Moment: 1988 Acquisition and the Birth of Martin/Martin

In 1988, KKBNA was acquired by John A. Martin & Associates and became part of the Martin Associates Group (MAG); a move that provided stability during a difficult period for construction and development in the late 1980s. The acquisition helped KKBNA ride out a softer market while continuing to serve clients with the same trusted leadership and technical depth. Even within MAG, KKBNA, now known as Martin/Martin, Inc., operated with a high degree of independence, preserving its culture, relationships, and legacy of structural innovation.

Large crowd of people waving and smiling on a grassy lawn under tall trees, gathered beside a truck labeled "MARTIN/MARTIN".

A New Chapter in Ownership

In 2007, MAG and Martin/Martin, Inc. separated, forming two independent companies and marking the start of a new chapter for our firm. In 2008, the Martin/Martin Principals purchased the majority shares, reinforcing local leadership and long-term commitment to the business. Today, Martin/Martin is solely owned by our employees; a structure that strengthens our culture, aligns our work with the people who do it, and supports a future built on shared success.

Map of the continental United States showing a company’s headquarters highlighted in Denver and multiple office locations marked across the country on a dark green background. Transcribed text: San Francisco - Larkspur San Francisco - San Mateo Fort Collins Vail Cheyenne DENVER Albuquerque Kansas City Northwest Arkansas Atlanta HEADQUARTERS OFFICE LOCATION

Shaped by History, Focused on the Future:

Today, Martin/Martin, Inc. is a nationally recognized firm built on the foundation of those who came before us. We stand on the shoulders of our predecessors, carrying forward a legacy of collaboration, technical excellence, and innovative problem-solving that has shaped communities for decades. With that history as our guide, we’re energized by what’s ahead and excited for the future as we continue to grow and deliver lasting impact for our clients and partners.