In Honor of Women’s History Month: Norma Merrick Sklarek

Norma Merrick Sklarek was often referred to as the “Rosa Parks of Architecture.” This was due to the fact that she had to overcome much adversity when she started her career. This highly educated woman with a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University School of Architecture was rejected by countless architectural firms. At that time in history, being a woman of color in a male-dominated industry was enough cause not to get hired, regardless of the degree of knowledge and talent involved. 

But Norma prevailed and didn’t let narrow-minded people dictate her mission in life. Her legacy is such a profound one filled with milestones. She was the first black woman to become a licensed architect. In 1954, she was licensed in New York, and in 1962 she got her architect license in California. Let us add that she passed the test on the first try!

Sklarek was the first black woman to be a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1980, and was the first woman to be elected as a Fellow of the AIA. Finally in 1985, along with two colleagues, she established her own women-owned and operated architectural firm Siegel Sklarek Diamond.

The credits of Norma Merrick Sklarek include the San Bernardino City Hall, Commons-Courthouse Center in Columbus, Indiana; the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, California; and the US Embassy in Tokyo, Japan.

On a personal note, if any of you have seen the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, the elegance and beauty combined with a futuristic nostalgia is the best way to describe this awe-inspiring creation.

At the time of her death, on February 6th, 2012, Norma had created such an incredible legacy to be enjoyed by many future generations. It is in that vein that we honor her life and the doors she opened for other women.