Honoring Legends: Norma Merrick Sklarek
- tianafordelight
- Feb 2
- 2 min read
Hey Family!
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH
I pray you are all doing well, and we're here with another blog post for one of my favorite months of the year!
As many of you know, I celebrate Black History all day, everyday, but since it marks the official beginning of Black History Month in the United States, we will commemorate it as usual by highlighting Black architects and designers.
This year, we're highlighting the first Black woman to become a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Norma Merrick Sklarek.
Mrs. Sklarek stands as a trailblazer in the design and architecture field, being the first Black woman to secure licensure in both New York and California.
Norma was born to Trinidadian parents in Harlem, NY. Her father, a doctor, and her mother, a seamstress, she came from grit, creativity, hard work, and style. Her brilliance led her to graduate from Columbia University with a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture in 1950 as the only Black woman in her class.
After graduating, she faced discrimination and was rejected from positions by 19 architecture firms. Nevertheless, she persevered, passing her license exam on her first attempt in 1954, becoming the first Black woman licensed in architecture in New York State. She then worked at Gruen and Associates, relocating to Los Angeles, where she became the first Black woman licensed in California in 1962. Throughout her career, she designed several landmarks in Southern California, including Terminal 1 at LAX, The Pacific Design Center, Fox Hills Mall and San Bernardino City Hall.
In 1985, she co-founded the largest woman-owned architectural firm in the nation, Siegel Sklarek Diamond, in Los Angeles, California. Here, she designed spaces even for my alma mater, the University of California, Irvine. Her firm designed the UCI Early Childhood Education Center and the Student Services II Building.
I’m honored to have frequented places designed by this trailblazing queen. UCI and Fox Hills Mall have given me so many wonderful memories over the years. And the San Bernardino City Hall is where my hubby and I received our marriage certificate.
Having designed numerous inspiring buildings, taught at Howard University, and shattered barriers as the first Black woman Fellow in the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Mrs. Sklarek passed away in 2012 at the age of 85, in her home in Pacific Palisades, California. We cherish her legacy and are eternally thankful for her unwavering perseverance, boundless dedication, and remarkable talent. Please feel free to learn more about this queen of architecture and design.
Thank you for your life’s work, Norma Merrick Sklarek!
Happy Black History Month, Family.
Black History IS American History!
Make Everyday Beautiful,
Tiana
Comments