Norma Merrick Sklarek

Norma Merrick Sklarek was born on April 15, 1926, in Harlem, New York. Her parents, Dr. Walter Ernest Merrick, a doctor, and Amy Merrick (née Willoughby), a seamstress, were immigrants from Trinidad. She grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Noticing Norma's propensity towards visual arts and mathematics, her father suggested she pursue architecture as a career. ==Career==

After receiving her degree, Sklarek was denied employment by 19 architectural firms. She accepted a position as junior draftsperson at the New York Department of Public Works. Within a year of attaining her license, she was hired at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, a position that exposed her to hands-on, skill-building projects. Sklarek was often credited as "project architect" rather than "design architect" on most major projects, despite being directly involved in the architectural design process. One exception to this was the credit she received, alongside César Pelli, for designing the Embassy of the United States in Tokyo. From 1980 to 1985, Sklarek worked at Welton Becket Associates where she served as the project director of the $50-million construction for the Terminal One station at the Los Angeles International Airport. Siegel Sklarek Diamond had projects valued at as much as $50 million under way at one time. Hoping to work on larger projects again, Sklarek left the firm in 1989 to join Jon Jerde Partnership as principal. In this final stint of her career, Sklarek would work on the Mall of America. Sklarek retired in 1992. Following her retirement, Sklarek was appointed by the state governor to serve on the California Architects Board and served as chair of the American Institute of Architects National Ethics Council for several years. == Personal life ==

Sklarek had two sons named Gregory and David Fairweather as well as three marriages during her career. As a single parent in the start of her career, her mother took the role of watching the children so she could begin her new profession. Rolf Sklarek died in 1984 and she married Dr. Cornelius Welch a few years later. == Death ==

She died of heart failure on February 6, 2012, at her home in Pacific Palisades, California. == Awards ==

• Fellow, American Institute of Architects, 1980, first African American woman • Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs’ Outstanding Business Role Model Award, 1987 • Honored by the National Organization of Minority Architects • Honored by the Black Women in Sisterhood for Action • Honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, 1998 • Norma Merrick Sklarek Architectural Scholarship Award established at Howard University • Resolution from California State Legislature honoring Norma Merrick Sklarek, 2007 • AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, 2008 • Professional Achievement Award, YWCA Los Angeles, 1987, 1989. • Keynote Speaker Award, YWCA Cincinnati, 1990. • Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, American Institute of Architects, 2008. == Significant buildings ==

Although both Sklarek and César Pelli, while at Gruen Associates, were responsible for designing the United States Embassy in Tokyo, Pelli was mainly accredited for the project, leaving Sklarek unrecognized. It is known for its extravagant architectural design that was a circular U shape. The $50-million station was constructed nearly two decades later to increase capacity. == Selected works ==

While a director at Gruen Associates, Sklarek collaborated with César Pelli on a number of projects. • 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 == References ==