Muscoe Burnett Martin, 59, an architect who was a pioneer in the design of environmentally responsible buildings, died Dec. 28 of cancer at his home in Chestnut Hill.
Among Mr. Martin's sustainable design projects in the area are the Horticulture Center at the University of Pennsylvania's Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill, the Education Center at the John Heintz National Wildlife Refuge in Tinicum, and the Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County for which he received the highest certification from Leadership in Energy & Environment (LEED).
He had recently been working on a Living Building Challenge project for the Alice Ferguson Foundation in Maryland.
For several years he served on the Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee of the Chestnut Hill Community Association.
Mr. Martin started his own firm, M2 Architecture, in 2006 dedicated to green design. He also was a lecturer for many years at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Design.
A board member of the U.S. Green Building Council, he helped to establish LEED principles and taught LEED certification workshops around the country. In 2013 he was elected as a LEED fellow, the council's highest honor.
He was a former chairman of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment and served on the board of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council.
A native of Kentucky who was raised in Missouri, Mr. Martin was a graduate of John Burroughs School in St. Louis. He received a bachelor's degree in architecture from Princeton University and a master's in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, the former Jennifer Pinto; daughters Emily, Nora and Charlotte; a son, Muscoe III (Jack); his mother, Ella Rena Chapman; his stepfather, James O'Bannon, and a brother.
Memorial services were held Jan. 10. Memorial donations may be sent to Breakthrough Bike Challenge, 14 W. Highland Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118. – WF
