Norma Merrick Sklarek (April 15, 1926 – February 6, 2012) didn’t just design buildings—she built pathways. Known as the “Rosa Parks of architecture,” Sklarek was the first African American woman licensed to practice architecture in both New York (1954) and California (1962), and the first Black woman elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
Born in Harlem to Trinidadian parents, Sklarek showed an early aptitude for math and design. After graduating from Columbia University’s School of Architecture in 1950—one of only two women in her class—she faced rejection from nearly twenty firms before landing her first job with the New York Department of Public Works. The setbacks only fueled her determination.
Her career took off when she joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and later Gruen Associates in Los Angeles, where she became Director of Architecture. Sklarek managed major projects like the Pacific Design Center, San Bernardino City Hall, and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. In 1980, she oversaw the $50 million LAX Terminal One project—completed just in time for the 1984 Olympics.
In 1985, Sklarek co-founded Siegel, Sklarek & Diamond, one of the largest woman-owned architectural firms of its time. Her later work with the Jerde Partnership included the iconic Mall of America. Beyond blueprints and buildings, she taught architecture at UCLA and USC, mentoring a generation of women and minority designers.
For her pioneering achievements, Sklarek received the AIA’s Whitney M. Young Jr. Award in 2008, recognizing her profound impact on social responsibility in architecture.
Norma Merrick Sklarek passed away on February 6, 2012, but her legacy continues to inspire—proof that determination and talent can reshape even the most unyielding structures.
