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Norma Merrick Sklarek
Born
Norma Merrick

(1926-04-15)April 15, 1926
Harlem, New York, United States
DiedFebruary 6, 2012(2012-02-06) (aged 85)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materBarnard College Columbia University School of Architecture
OccupationArchitect
AwardsFellow, American Institute of Architects
PracticeSkidmore, Owings & Merrill; Gruen and Associates; Welton Becket; Siegel-Sklarek-Diamond

Norma Merrick Sklarek (April 15, 1926 – February 6, 2012) was the first African American woman to pass her license exam to officially become an architect in both New York (1954) and California (1962).[1][2][10] . Sklarek is most recognized for designing the United States Embassy in Tokyo, Japan in 1976 and the Terminal One station at the Los Angeles International Airport in 1984. After designing several buildings, she became the first black woman to own her own business practice with two women Margot Siegel and Katherine Diamond from 1985-1989 . She earned the nickname "The Rosa Parks of Architecture" from Author Anna Lewis for her major accomplishments as a black woman in a male dominant field and continued to be a voice for women who were likely to face discrimination in certain fields.[3]


Norma Merrick Sklarek (April 15, 1926 – February 6, 2012) was a pioneering American architect. Sklarek is thought to be the third black woman to be licensed as an architect in the United States[4] after Beverly Loraine Greene (IL, 1942) and Georgia Louise Harris Brown (IL, 1949). Born and schooled in New York City, she was most successful after moving to California at age 35.

She was the first woman to become a licensed architect in the states of New York (1954) and later the first woman to be licensed in the state of California (1962).[4][5] She remained the only licensed black woman in California until 1980.[6] Author Anna Lewis calls her "The Rosa Parks of Architecture."

Early life and Education[edit]

Norma Merrick was born on April 15, 1926 in Harlem, New York. Her parents, Dr. Walter Ernest Merrick and Amelia (Amy) Willoughby were a doctor and seamstress, from St. Vincent and Barbados.[7][8] She grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.[7] At a young age, Sklarek was closer to her father whom she received most of her training and ability from. Maintaining a special father and daughter connection, Sklarek leaned towards architecture after being taught how to be hands-on in several activities and being exceptional in mathematics and science at Hunter College High School.[7][9][8]

Since math and science were requirements to be an architect, majoring in architecture matched her expertise. After spending a year of her college career at Barnard College, she spent her following years at Columbia University where she majored and received her Bachelors in Architecture.[2][10] Throughout her college experience, Sklarek had many hardships in assimilating with her classmates. Despite having to be an African American female, she had to constantly face predominantly white students who had valuable degrees and formed relationships and study groups with other students to get ahead on assignments.[2] Dealing with these obstacles on her own, Sklarek had to take advantage of her isolation by working outside the classroom setting.[10] As a result, she graduated 5 years later with her degree in architecture as the only African American woman.[11][8]

Personal life[edit]

Sklarek is also known as Norma Merrick Fairweather.[12] Sklarek had two sons[13] named Gregory and David Fairweather.[14] In 1967, she married Bauhaus graduate Rolf Sklarek, a Gruen architect. After her second marriage she used the name Norma Merrick Sklarek as her professional name.[15] After Sklarek's death in 1984 she married Cornelius Welch.[13] She died of heart failure on Feb. 6, 2012[15] in Pacific Palisades, California.



Sklarek had two sons named Gregory and David Fairweather as well as three marriages during her career as an architect.[1][3][10] As a single parent in the start of her career, her mother took the role of watching the children so she can begin her new profession. [10] After being known as Norma Merrick Fairweather in one of her marriages, she changed her last name to Sklarek in 1967 when she married[2] Bauhaus graduate Rolf Sklarek, a Gruen architect whom she met at the Gruen Associates Firm.[10] After Rolf Sklarek passed away in 1984, she married Dr. Cornelius Welch a few years later.[1][10] As she continued her career and received awards, she passed away from heart issues in 2012. [10] To this day, Sklarek remains unrecognized for most of her achievements as an African American woman architect.

Career[edit]

She took the test to become an architect. The 7 part, 4 hour test, she passed the first time with the highest score. After receiving her degree, Sklarek was unable to find work at an architecture firm, so she took a job at the New York Department of Public Works from 1950 to 1954.[16] Sklarek was one of the first Black women in the country to become a licensed architect.[17] After she attained her license in 1954 she worked at a small private firm.[18] Starting in 1955, she worked for five years at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. While working at SOM she taught two nights a week at City College of New York.[18]

In 1960, Sklarek moved to California after accepting the position of first female vice president for Gruen and Associates in Los Angeles, where she worked for two decades.[19] In 1966 she became the firm's first female and first Black female director.[17] Sklarek worked closely with César Pelli and she headed that firm's production department. At Gruen, Sklarek was responsible for hiring and overseeing staff. She was responsible for coordinating the technical aspects of several major projects including the California Mart, Pacific Design Center, Fox Hills Mall, San Bernardino City Hall, Leo Baeck Temple and the Embassy of the United States in Tokyo.[17][20]

From 1980 to 1985, Sklarek worked at Welton Becket Associates where she directed the construction for Terminal One at the Los Angeles International Airport.[18] Sklarek was the project director for the $50-million project. Terminal 1 was completed in January 1984, "well ahead of the millions of tourists expected for that summer's Olympics."[17] Sklarek became the first black woman to be elected a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1980.[17][19][21]

In 1985 she co-founded Siegel, Sklarek, and Diamond with Margot Siegel and Katherine Diamond.[16][18] The firm was the largest woman-owned firm at the time. Siegel, Sklarek, and Diamond put out proposals on five projects "and won all five commissions, an unheard-of batting average."[20]

Wishing to work on larger projects, she left Siegel, Sklarek, and Diamond in 1989.[21] Sklarek joined the Jon Jerde Partnership,[17] as a Principal until her retirement in 1992.[17][19]

Following her retirement,[18] she was appointed by the governor to serve on the California Architects Board. She also served for several years as chair of the AIA's National Ethics Council.[22] A former president of the AIA said of her: "She was capable of doing anything. She was the complete architect."[17]

As an architect, Sklarek was tenacious and level headed. Understanding that discrimination would be an issue she faced all of her career, she decided to take it head on. Working at her second firm, Gruen Associates, she carpooled to work with a fellow, male employee who had been with the company for many years. Riding with this fellow employee she was late most days in her first couple of weeks. After a short amount of time she was approached by her boss even though her male counterpart, who had been late for many years, had never been approached. In response to this she told a California magazine, "My solution was to buy a car since I, the highly visible employee, had to be punctual." [17] She interviewed with Architecture magazine in October 1991. The article she interviewed for also interviewed many other female architects. Sklarek's responses remained short and to the point, contrary to the other interviewee's. For instance in response to a question about perceivable "glass ceilings" within firms Sklarek stated, "If a woman is considerably better and more productive than her male counterpart, she can rise close to the top" while others submitted long paragraphs on their personal struggles with the "glass ceiling."[23]


After receiving her degree, Sklarek was unable to find work at an architecture firm, so she took a job at the New York Department of Public Works from 1950 to 1954.[2] Unsatisfied with her 4 year job due to tedious expectations, Sklarek decided to take the architecture examination because she felt her job wasn't challenging her abilities. As a result, she became the first African American woman in New York to become a licensed architect in 1954.[1][10] Within a year of attaining her license, she was hired at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill which exceeded her expectations in being hands on and testing her skill-set.[4][10] While working at SOM for 5 years, Sklarek took a second job and "taught evening architecture courses at the New York City Community College" to support her two children while her mother help with family responsibilities. [10]

In 1960, Sklarek resided in California after accepting the position of the first female vice president for Gruen and Associates in Los Angeles, where she worked for two decades.[3] While working at the company that was a big leap in her career, she experienced some discrimination within the work environment. As a modern representative who didn't have access to a vehicle, Sklarek's boss blamed her for her tardiness to work even though her white male colleague was responsible for driving and making them both late everyday.[10] As a result, she purchased her own car to put an end to the prejudicial treatment.[10]

Eventually 2 years later, Sklarek became the first African American woman architect to be licensed in California in 1962. 4 years after being licensed, she also became the firm's first African American female director. [1] At Gruen, Sklarek's role gave her the ability to supervise staff that she hired while also collaborating on other major projects simultaneously. These projects included the California Mart, Pacific Design Center, Fox Hills Mall, San Bernardino City Hall, Leo Baeck Temple and the Embassy of the United States in Tokyo. [1][6] Even though she was an architect, "Sklarek served as a project manager rather than design architect, although she is credited, with César Pelli, as design architect on the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo".[10] Throughout her career as an architect, it was common for women to be unacknowledged in their work because it was a male dominating field that focused on their self-image. Whenever a client was introduced to an architect, the presence and name of a female architect was kept unknown in order to keep businesses running.

In 1980, after her departure from Gruen Associates, Sklarek became the first black woman to be elected a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) after being the first African American woman member in 1959. [1][3][7]

From 1980 to 1985, she also worked at Welton Becket Associates where she served as the project director of the $50-million construction for the Terminal One station at the Los Angeles International Airport.[4] Terminal 1 was completed in January 1984 just in time for "the millions of tourists expected for that summer's Olympics" during that year. [1] As years went on, renovations were enhanced.

After Welton Becket Associates in 1985, Sklarek developed her own practice where she co-founded Siegel, Sklarek, and Diamond with Margot Siegel and Katherine Diamond.[2] The firm was the largest woman-owned firm at the time. Siegel, Sklarek, and Diamond put out proposals on five projects "and won all five commissions, an unheard-of batting average." [1][3] Hoping to work on larger projects again, Sklarek left the firm in 1989. She continued to mentor many young women who aspired to be a female architect, worked on designing the Mall of America, and joined the Jon Jerde Partnership, as a Principal until her retirement in 1992.[1][3][7]

Following her retirement, Sklarek was appointed by the governor to serve on the California Architects Board and served as chair of the AIA's National Ethics Council for several years.[8] A former president of the AIA said of her: "She was capable of doing anything. She was the complete architect."[1] Understanding that discrimination would play a major role in the architectural field as a female and African American, she remained determined and paved a way for future young women to do the same.

Honors & Awards[edit]

In her honor, Howard University offers the Norma Merrick Sklarek Architectural Scholarship Award.

  • 1980 — American Institute of Architects Fellow (first Black woman)
  • 1985 — First Black woman to establish and manage an architectural firm
  • 1987 — Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs Outstanding Business Role Model Award
  • 1990 —Honorary Member of the Delta Sigma sorority
  • 2007 —Honored by the California State Legislature
  • 2007 — Honored by Goodwill Board of Governors for work on behalf of the disabled
  • 2007 — Honored by National Organization of Minority Architects
  • 2008 — Whitney Young Jr. Award Service Award for Social Action at the AIA National Convention in Boston

Significant Buildings[edit]

The Embassy of the United States in Tokyo is a residence located in Tokyo, Japan. It was built in 1976 to help provide citizens from the United States to permanently reside in Japan or travel back and forth internationally. The staff are known to have strict guidelines when keeping the business and people’s information protected and confidential. Attendees are only allowed in with very little items such as their documents, a small bag, one cellphone device and items for babies. Immigrants and non-immigrants also have to go through a many checklists, interviews, and several applications to get situated before they are approved.

Although both Sklarek and César Pelli were responsible for designing the project in Gruen Associates, César Pelli was mainly accredited for this project, leaving Sklarek unrecognizable. Her role was not only to design the building, but to serve a major purpose of supervising and hiring staff for the building.[10] Even though she has done a lot with her collaboration with Pelli, she is not mentioned for this accomplishment. [10]

The Terminal One station at LAX was another major accomplishment by Sklarek with Welton Becket Associates in 1984 who served as the project director. [4] The Terminal One station was built along with the Tom Bradley International Terminal so people can travel oversees especially before attending the summer Olympics from July-August.[1] Along is known for its extravagant architectural design that was a circular U shape. As years went on, the $50-million station was constructed nearly 2 decades later so that more travelers can fly as the number of tourists increased.

Selected works[edit]

Note: Sklarek's race and gender often excluded her from recognition of her work on major architectural projects. While a director at Gruen Associates, Sklarek collaborated with César Pelli on a number of projects. Only the U.S. Embassy in Japan acknowledges Sklarek's contributions.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Woo, Elaine. "Pioneering African American architect". Los Angeles Times. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Norma Merrick Sklarek - First Black Woman to Become a US Architect". [Architecture.about.com Archived] from the original on 1928-04-15. Retrieved 2012-02-11. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)
  3. ^ Lewis, Anna M. (2014). Women of Steel and Stone : 22 Inspirational Architects, Engineers, and Landscape Designers (First edition. ed.). Independent Pub Group. pp. 52–59. ISBN 1613745087.
  4. ^ a b Woo, Elaine. "Pioneering African American architect". Los Angeles Times, Feb. 10, 2012.
  5. ^ "Norma Merrick Sklarek - First Black Woman to Become a US Architect". Architecture.about.com. 1928-04-15. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
  6. ^ Ehrhart-Morrison, Dorothy (1997). No Mountain High Enough : Secrets of Successful African American Women. Berkeley, CA: Conari. p. 18,30,150–152. ISBN 9780943233987.
  7. ^ a b c Ehrhart-Morrison, Dorothy (1997). No Mountain High Enough : Secrets of Successful African American Women. Berkeley, CA: Conari. p. 18,30,150–152. ISBN 9780943233987.
  8. ^ a b c Lewis, Anna M. (2014). Women of Steel and Stone : 22 Inspirational Architects, Engineers, and Landscape Designers (First edition. ed.). Independent Pub Group. pp. 52–59. ISBN 1613745087.
  9. ^ Metcalf, Doris Hunter (1996). Portraits of Outstanding African Americans. New Jersey: Good Apple. p. 28. ISBN 1564177173.
  10. ^ "Norma Merrick Sklarek - First Black Woman to Become a US Architect". Architecture.about.com. 1928-04-15. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
  11. ^ Woo, Elaine. "Pioneering African American architect". Los Angeles Times, Feb. 10, 2012.
  12. ^ "Norma Merrick Sklarek - First Black Woman to Become a US Architect". Architecture.about.com. 1928-04-15. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
  13. ^ a b Woo, Elaine. "Pioneering African American architect". Los Angeles Times, Feb. 10, 2012.
  14. ^ Ehrhart-Morrison, Dorothy (1997). No Mountain High Enough : Secrets of Successful African American Women. Berkeley, CA: Conari. p. 18,30,150–152. ISBN 9780943233987.
  15. ^ a b Lewis, Anna M. (2014). Women of Steel and Stone : 22 Inspirational Architects, Engineers, and Landscape Designers (First edition. ed.). Independent Pub Group. pp. 52–59. ISBN 1613745087.
  16. ^ a b "Norma Merrick Sklarek - First Black Woman to Become a US Architect". Architecture.about.com. 1928-04-15. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i Woo, Elaine. "Pioneering African American architect". Los Angeles Times, Feb. 10, 2012.
  18. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Anna M. (2014). Women of Steel and Stone : 22 Inspirational Architects, Engineers, and Landscape Designers (First edition. ed.). Independent Pub Group. pp. 52–59. ISBN 1613745087.
  19. ^ a b c Ehrhart-Morrison, Dorothy (1997). No Mountain High Enough : Secrets of Successful African American Women. Berkeley, CA: Conari. p. 18,30,150–152. ISBN 9780943233987.
  20. ^ a b "Legacy: A Pioneering African-American Architect". Inc.com. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  21. ^ a b Kaplan, Victoria (2006). Structural inequality : black architects in the United States. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 124. ISBN 0742545830.
  22. ^ Griffith, Susan J. "Normal Merrick Sklarek". Blackpast.org (website). Accessed Oc.t 27, 2015.
  23. ^ Soloman, Nancy (October 1991). "Women in Corporate Firms". Architecture. 80.

Further reading[edit]

  • Ehrhart-Morrison, Dorothy, No Mountain High Enough: Secrets of Successful African American Women, Conari Press, 1997.
  • Harris, Gloria and Hanah Cohen, Women Trailblazers of California, History Press, 2012.
  • Summers, Barbara, ed. I Dream A World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America. Photos and Interviews by Brian Lanker. Workman Publishing, 1989.
  • Lewis, Anna M, Women of Steel and Stone, Chicago Review Press, Inc, 2014.

External links[edit]

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