Norma Merrick Sklarek died on February 6, 2012, in Pacific Palisades, California, at the age of 83.
Norma Merrick Sklarek died on February 6, 2012, in Pacific Palisades, California, at the age of 83. Her death was widely reported and mourned within the architectural community, with tributes emphasizing her role as a trailblazer who broke through racial and gender barriers throughout a decades-long career.
By the time of her death, Sklarek had long been celebrated as one of the most important figures in the history of American architecture, having been the first African American woman licensed as an architect in both New York and California, the first Black woman elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and a co-founder of one of the first major women-owned architecture firms in the country.
Obituaries, including one published by the Los Angeles Times, highlighted her extensive body of work, including her contributions to landmark projects such as Terminal One at Los Angeles International Airport, the Pacific Design Center, and the American Embassy in Tokyo. Her legacy continued through scholarships, awards, and mentorship programs established in her name, and she remains a frequently cited figure in efforts to diversify the architecture profession, inspiring generations of women and architects of color who followed in her footsteps.