Norma Sklarek, FAIA, is a woman of many firsts. She is the first African-American woman licensed as an architect in the United States, the first to have Fellowship bestowed upon her by the AIA, and the first to form an architectural firm. Because of these and other pioneering accomplishments in the architectural profession, she was recognized and honored on the floors of the California State Senate and State Assembly on August 20, 2007.
Norma Merrick Sklarek was born in 1928. She was raised in New York at the edge of Harlem. From an early age, She exhibited solid artistic talents and excelled in school – especially in math. Her mother was a homemaker and her father was a physician. They instilled in Norma the strong belief that she could succeed in a profession, and in life, through hard work, education and a positive attitude.
Her grades were always excellent and she took the time to give serious thought to what she wanted to be when she grew up. She accompanied her father on his house calls during her adolescence. From that experience she determined that medicine was not for her. She decided to merge her love of art and math and pursue architecture as a career. She was accepted at Columbia’s School of Architecture in 1946, but first had to prove her academic worth by taking her freshman year at Barnard College in Liberal Arts. She then entered Columbia and graduated in 1950 as the first African-American woman ever awarded a Bachelor of Architecture Degree.
Norma passed her licensing exam on her first try and quickly became well known for her skills in the technical side of the architectural profession. She also began to tutor other architectural graduates in the ways and means of passing the licensing exam—eventually coaching hundreds of successful licensing recipients. Norma was the first black female architect registered and licensed in New York—and the United States—in 1954. In 1962 she moved to California, where she became the first black female architect licensed here.
She worked from 1960-1980 as head of the architectural department of Gruen Associates in Los Angeles. Among the many projects for which she was responsible during that time were the Fox Plaza in San Francisco, the American Embassy Building in Tokyo, and the Queens Fashion Mall in New York.
From 1980-1985, she served as Vice President of Welton Becket and Associates, where her major project was the Terminal One Building at Los Angeles International Airport. In 1985, she became the first black female to form and manage an architectural firm, Siegel, Sklarek, Diamond, which was at its formation the largest woman-owned architectural firm in California. From 1989 to her semi-retirement in 1996, Norma was a principal with Jon Jerde Associates, where she was involved with major architectural projects throughout the world, including the Mall of America, the largest shopping center in the U.S.
In addition to a career record of significant professional achievements and technical excellence, Norma has balanced family life, teaching at UCLA, lecturing at many architecture schools, and non-stop mentoring and coaching of younger colleagues.
Over the years, she has served the profession and public in many capacities, serving as a member of the Architectural Guild of USC, an NCARB Master Juror, a member and chair of the AIA Ethics Committee, and a member of Goodwill Industries’ Board of Governors. She has just completed a term as a Governor-appointed member of the California Architects Board. Norma has received awards, honors, and testimonials from countless professional and community groups over the course of her impressive career. Among these are recognition from NCARB, AIA, the California State University, Turner Broadcasting, Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs, Goodwill Industries, National Organization of Minority Architects, Hampton University, Association for Women in Architecture, and the Y.W.C.A.
Norma’s peers recognized her as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1980, the first black woman to be so honored. In 2007, the AIA California Council and State Senator Sheila James Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) arranged for Norma to be honored by the State Legislature.
“As a woman, I am personally touched and impressed by what Norma has achieved in the practice of architecture, as well as by what she has given back to the profession through her service. This recognition could not go to a more deserving person. She is a role model for all current and future architects,” said Pamela Touschner, AIA, 2007 AIA California Council President.
“Norma Sklarek, FAIA, has been a trailblazer in the architectural profession in so many ways. AIA National is excited to see the California Legislature honor Ms. Sklarek’s accomplishments, and we extend our warmest congratulations to her for an impressive lifetime of achievement,” added Paul Mendelsohn, FAIA?,Vice President, Government and Community Relations.
Norma is enjoying her semi-retirement while continuing to work as a consultant to professional colleagues.
Author Lori Reed was Director of Marketing and Communications for the AIA California Council.
Originally published 4th quarter 2007 in arcCA 07.4, “preFABiana.”
