MRA also brings years of experience in the field of energy efficient construction. Our background brings a perspective to the burgeoning growth and interest in
green development balancing our long held enthusiasm with our history of hands on experience.

History

The firm was founded in 1969 by Alan Salzman. Jackie Martin and Michael Riley joined the firm in 1972 and 1982 respectively. Upon Mr. Salzman’s death in 1989, the firm continued as Martin Riley Associates and has grown to a 20-person office. The firm has a general architectural practice specializing in multi-family housing and historic reuse developments.

The firm began as many small firms do, in small residential design, but quickly expanded into multi-family and restaurant work. Over the years we have designed churches, refrigerated plants, research laboratories, recreational facilities, and city halls. Most of our commissions are for new construction but the reuse/renovation of historic structures is a field we particularly enjoy and pursue. While our experience encompasses many types of development, we continue to keep our focus on housing where we have completed over 1,000 successful projects ranging from family, senior, assisted living, and condominiums. As a natural progression we now provide master planning for multi use/mixed use developments using our land planning skills honed in the multi-family market coupled with judicious use of New Urbanist design concepts.

At MRA we instill pride in our work and strive to offer excellent service to our clients. We listen carefully and keep the needs of our clients at the forefront. Meeting the requirements for function, style and budget, while adding our imagination and our broad experience, results in winning solutions. We are committed to providing superior service and helping our clients to succeed.

Our Work

Awards and Achievements

TAYLOR VILLAGE / HAWKINSVILLE, GA

Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Award - April, 2021

SAVANNAH GARDENS / SAVANNAH, GA

Master-Planned/Mixed-Use Project of the Year
Affordable Housing Finance’s Readers’ Choice Award - 2012

LAURELS OF LAKE JUNALUSKA / LAKE JUNALUSKA, NC

• NAHB A Pillar of the Industry Award – 2008 

• Multifamily Executive Magazine-Project of the Year-2008

MERCY HOUSING SouthEast

Best Project Design / Innovation Award Chamblee, Georgia Atlanta – 2008

HERITAGE CORNER & HERITAGE ROW APARTMENTS / SAVANNAH, GA

• National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Preservation Honor Award – 2007 

• Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Special Achievement Award for Affordable Apartment Community – 2006

 COLUMBIA CITIHOMES / ATLANTA, GA

Magnolia Award for Superior Design – 2004

HERITAGE PLACE / SAVANNAH, GA

• GA Trust Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation – 2003

• Magnolia Award for Affordable Rental Housing – 2002 

• Historic Savannah Foundation for Historically Sensitive Adaptive Reuse and Compatible New Construction – 2002

COLUMBIA COLONY SENIOR RESIDENCES/ATLANTA, GA

• NAHB Best of Senior Housing Design Silver Award – 2003

• NAHB Best Affordable Multifamily Community Award – 2003

• Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award for Best Senior Housing - 2003

GUILFORD CROSSING / GREENSBORO, NC

Retirement Communities Association of the Carolinas for Project of the Year 2001

COLUMBIA GARDENS / DOUGLASVILLE, GA

Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Special Achievement Award for Affordable Apartment Community – 2001