Norma Merrick Sklarek

Norma Merrick Sklarek (April 15, 1926 – February 6, 2012) was an American architect. Sklarek was the first African American woman to become a licensed architect in the states of New York and California (1962), as well as the first Black woman to become a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Her notable works include the United States Embassy in Tokyo, Japan (1976) and the Terminal One station at the Los Angeles International Airport (1984). 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. 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. 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. 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