In Tribute: Remembering Martin Ramirez, AIA, NOMA (1980-2025)

It is with profound sadness and the heaviest of hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of our colleague and friend, Martin Ramirez, AIA, NOMA. On October 9, 2025, Martin died in a motorcycle accident, leaving a void in our professional community that will be deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

On behalf of AIA Los Angeles, we offer our deepest and most sincere condolences to his family, his friends, and his many professional colleagues at Gannett Fleming (now GFT) and beyond.

The loss of Martin is staggering. He was, in every sense, a compassionate leader, a profoundly collegial colleague, and a genuine mentor. He was exceptionally generous with his time, always eager to share his insight and expertise with students and emerging professionals. Martin was defined by a profound optimism—a belief in the power of design and architecture to truly uplift communities. He was insightful, aspirational, and deeply committed to making lives and places happier, healthier, and more functional for everyone.

His kindness, engaging humor, and friendly, social nature made him a connector. He was determined, but that determination was always coupled with a compassion that made his leadership so effective.

Martin’s generosity and support for AIA Los Angeles were extraordinary. He was an active and essential participant in our ongoing AIA|LA City Leaders Breakfast Series. Through his leadership, his firm, Gannett Fleming (now GFT) , served as the Presenting Sponsor for the series for two consecutive years. But Martin’s contribution was never passive; he was a true partner in shaping the series itself. He provided critical thematic ideas, offered thoughtful recommendations for speakers, and possessed a unique talent for guiding the audience into powerful, productive dialogues. He helped us reach a consensus on immediate next steps, translating conversation into action to advance the priorities of our city.

Michael B. Lehrer, FAIA, a past president of AIA|LA, shared this personal reflection after hearing the news:

“I just heard from Alice Kimm that our most beloved colleague, Martin Ramirez, died in a motorcycle accident on Thursday. I met him first at the AIA leadership breakfast at my studio, and we became fast friends and colleagues. He was an exceptional human being, an exceptional architect, and made an amazing contribution to AIA LA by sponsoring the leadership breakfast for two years, with his kind, ebullient, humble, and sunny personality. I am personally shocked and a major loss. I came to love him for his intelligence, for his incredible kindness… the respect and appreciation he joyfully exuded–in word and deed–touched me deeply. He was a consequential guy with the vast promise ahead already beginning to show in big ways… I was so touched and impressed by how he came to LA, had his company sponsor our leadership breakfast for two years, showed up at every one, and set the scene as he introduced each of them. So smart. And such a good thing to do. A very, very special guy.”

Martin’s repeated willingness to run for the AIA|LA Board of Directors was a testament to his deep, unwavering commitment to serving this profession and this city. His platform was a clear reflection of his character, focusing on advocacy, inclusivity, and collaboration.

To truly understand Martin’s drive, one only needs to read his own words. In a recent interview for our website, he shared the moment he first wanted to become an architect:

“Yes! When I was 5 years old and living in Mexico with my grandparents in a house that didn’t have floors. I was very curious as to why that wasn’t the case for some of my other relatives. I asked my grandfather one day, ‘Who designs and builds houses?’ When he said, ‘Architects do’ (in Spanish), I knew that from that day on, I would someday become an architect.”

His advice to future generations captured his spirit perfectly: “Don’t lose sight of and follow your dream. No matter your background or where you come from, we all have the power to be architects, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Martin lived by that advice. His greatest personal driver was mentorship. As an adjunct professor at his alma mater, Arizona State University, he was moved “to know that I can help a student of architecture or even a professional looking to grow in their career.” He wanted to show students the breadth of the profession, to “know they can follow their dream and be influenced by the power of design.”

His vision for the profession was a powerful call to action for us all. He challenged us to see architecture as “less about being iconic and more about realizing that it can define one’s perception of society.” He argued that “Architecture needs to be responsive and be a platform that can transcend architects into deeper discussions about social equity.” He believed architects should be everywhere: “in politics, policy, healthcare, be developers, educators, and CEOs to help create a stewardship for ‘just’ and equitable solutions.”

This was not just a theory for Martin. As Vice President and West Coast architecture practice leader at Gannett Fleming, he was translating this vision into reality. He was serving as the Principal Architect for the Inglewood Transit Connector, a project that embodies the very connectivity and community focus he championed.

Martin Ramirez was kind, compassionate, insightful, determined, and boundlessly generous. His passing is a profound loss for his family, his friends, and our entire community. He was, as Michael Lehrer so aptly put it, “a consequential guy with a vast promise.”

His leadership, his sunny personality, and his unwavering commitment to a better, more just, and more beautifully designed world will be dearly and truly missed.

Support for Martin’s Family

To support Martin’s family with the unexpected and tragic costs of his funeral expenses, a GoFundMe page has been established. We invite you to contribute if you are able.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-martin-ramirezs-funeral-expenses

To share memories of Martin = https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/mesa-az/martin-ramirez-12554859

Arizona State University invites members and friends of The Design School community to share memories, reflections, and stories in honor of Martin Ramirez = CLICK HERE.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Mariposa Gardens, 400 S. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85206, on Thursday, October 30th, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM.

Martin Ramirez Jr, AIA, NOMA – Vice President, Gannett Fleming

Martin Ramirez Jr, AIA graduated with a Master’s of Architecture from Arizona State University and started his career in 1999. In 2022, Martin became the West Coast architecture practice leader at Gannett Fleming and eventually became a Vice President. Martin was also the Principal Architect for the Inglewood Transit Connector project.

Martin Ramirez was an adjunct professor and taught architecture studio at Arizona State University. In 2023, his studio sponsored guest lecturers from Los Angeles, such as Dr. Dana Cuff, Michael Maltzan, and Michael Lehrer.

Martin was Gannett Fleming’s champion for becoming the 2023 & 2024 Presenting Sponsor for the AIA|LA City Leaders Breakfast.