Norma Merrick Sklarek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norma Merrick Sklarek
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Norma Merrick
April 15, 1926 Harlem, New York, United States
|
| Died | February 6, 2012 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | Fellow, American Institute of Architects |
| Practice | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Gruen and Associates; Welton Becket; Siegel-Sklarek-Diamond |
Norma Merrick Sklarek (born April 15, 1926 – died February 6, 2012) was an amazing American architect. She made history by becoming the first African American woman to get her architect's license in both New York (1954) and California (1962).
Norma Sklarek is well-known for her work on big projects. These include the United States Embassy in Tokyo, Japan (1976) and the Terminal One station at the Los Angeles International Airport (1984). Later in her career, she also became the first Black woman to co-own her own architecture firm. She worked with Margot Siegel and Katherine Diamond from 1985 to 1989. Because of her many achievements in a field mostly led by men, she was sometimes called "The Rosa Parks of Architecture." She always spoke up for women who faced unfair treatment in their jobs.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Norma Merrick Sklarek was born in Harlem, New York on April 15, 1926. Her parents were Dr. Walter Ernest Merrick, a doctor, and Amelia Willoughby, a seamstress. They came from St. Vincent and Barbados. Norma grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
From a young age, Norma was very close to her father. He taught her to be hands-on and explore different activities. She was also excellent at math and science, especially at Hunter College High School. These skills helped her decide to study architecture.
Norma first attended Barnard College. Then, she went to Columbia University where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Architecture. College was not always easy for Norma. She was often the only African American woman in her classes. She worked very hard on her own, studying outside of class. She graduated with her architecture degree as the only African American woman in her program.
Norma Sklarek's Career Journey
After finishing college, Norma Sklarek found it hard to get a job at an architecture firm. So, from 1950 to 1954, she worked for the New York Department of Public Works. She felt this job wasn't challenging enough for her skills.
In 1954, she decided to take the architecture exam. She passed and became the first African American woman to be a licensed architect in New York! Within a year, she was hired by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). This job was much more exciting and let her use her talents. She worked at SOM for five years. To support her two children, she also taught evening architecture classes at New York City Community College. Her mother helped care for her children.
Working at Gruen and Associates
In 1960, Norma moved to Los Angeles and joined Gruen and Associates. She became the first female vice president there, which was a huge step in her career. She worked at Gruen for twenty years.
During her time at Gruen, Norma sometimes faced unfair treatment. For example, she didn't have a car at first. Her boss would blame her for being late, even though her white male co-worker was responsible for driving them. To stop this unfairness, she bought her own car.
In 1962, Norma Sklarek made history again. She became the first African American woman architect to be licensed in California. Four years later, she also became Gruen's first African American female director. At Gruen, Norma managed staff and worked on many important projects. These 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.
Even though she was a key architect, her contributions were not always fully recognized. In the past, it was common for women architects to be left out of the spotlight. This was because architecture was mostly a male-dominated field.
Becoming a Fellow and Starting Her Own Firm
In 1980, after leaving Gruen Associates, Norma Sklarek achieved another first. She became the first Black woman to be chosen as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). She had already been the first African American woman member of the AIA in 1959.
From 1980 to 1985, she worked at Welton Becket Associates. There, she was the project director for the $50-million construction of the Terminal One station at the Los Angeles International Airport. Terminal 1 was finished in January 1984, just in time for the millions of visitors expected for the summer Olympics that year.
In 1985, Norma Sklarek took a big step. She co-founded her own firm, Siegel, Sklarek, and Diamond, with Margot Siegel and Katherine Diamond. This firm became the largest woman-owned architecture firm at the time. They were very successful, winning all five of their first project proposals!
Norma left the firm in 1989 because she wanted to work on even larger projects. She continued to guide many young women who wanted to become architects. She also worked on designing the Mall of America and joined the Jon Jerde Partnership as a Principal before retiring in 1992.
After retiring, Norma Sklarek continued to serve her community. The governor appointed her to the California Architects Board. She also led the AIA's National Ethics Council for several years. A former president of the AIA once said about her, "She was capable of doing anything. She was the complete architect." Norma understood that being a female and African American architect would bring challenges. But she stayed determined and opened doors for many young women who followed her.
Later Life and Family
Norma Sklarek passed away in 2012 due to heart issues. She had two sons, Gregory and David Fairweather. She was married three times during her life. When she was a single parent starting her career, her mother helped care for her children. In 1967, she married Rolf Sklarek, an architect she met at Gruen Associates. He passed away in 1984. A few years later, she married Dr. Cornelius Welch.
Honors and Awards
Norma Merrick Sklarek received many honors for her groundbreaking work:
- 1980 – She became the first Black woman to be a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
- 1985 – She was the first Black woman to start and manage her own architectural firm.
- 1987 – She received the Outstanding Business Role Model Award from the Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs.
- 1990 – She was made an Honorary Member of the Delta Sigma sorority.
- 2007 – She was honored by the California State Legislature.
- 2007 – The Goodwill Board of Governors honored her for her work helping people with disabilities.
- 2007 – She was honored by the National Organization of Minority Architects.
- 2008 – She received the Whitney Young Jr. Award Service Award for Social Action at the AIA National Convention in Boston.
Significant Buildings Norma Sklarek Worked On
Norma Sklarek played a key role in designing many important buildings:
- Embassy of the United States in Tokyo
This project was a collaboration with César Pelli at Gruen Associates. While Pelli often received most of the credit, Norma Sklarek was crucial to the design. She also supervised and hired staff for the building.
- Terminal One Station, Los Angeles International Airport
Norma Sklarek was the project director for this major accomplishment while working with Welton Becket Associates in 1984. Terminal One was built along with the Tom Bradley International Terminal. This helped people travel, especially before the summer Olympics that year. The $50-million station is known for its unique circular U-shape design.
Selected Works
Here are some of the projects Norma Sklarek worked on:
- 1961–66 – Fox Plaza, San Francisco, California
- 1961–63 – California Mart, Los Angeles, California
- 1963–65 – San Bernardino City Hall, San Bernardino, California
- 1972–75 – Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, California
- 1976–78 – Embassy of the United States in Tokyo, Japan
- 1980 – Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica
- 1984 – Terminal One, Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California
- 1989–92 – Mall of America, Minneapolis, Minnesota
