Artist

Sculptor

Architect

Educator

His love of drawing drew him to art and architecture.

In the first part of my career...

I focused on self expression and design.  I was entrepreneurial and research oriented. 

My first endeavor was to form TAO Design Group, Inc., a private non-profit organization for the purpose of exploring the potentials of new materials in architecture.  This period of research and building has provided a pivotal set of experiences that have influenced me throughout my life.  It began while I was still a graduate student at UT/Austin, and continued over more than a decade.  While working on the prototype Earth House, we decided to build Yurt City where I lived for 3 1/2 years.  In 1975 we experienced a downturn in the economy that stopped all work.  I decided to go down to work in Houma, Louisiana to work offshore in the oilfields.  This experience exposed me to another world.  One that was based on another model of existence.  It was a strong influence on my understanding of the world around me.

My second was to create TAO/ONO, Inc.  a design-build organization that could build what it designed.  This operations grew from three partners and three employees to 60 persons in eight years.  It was doing major projects in the state of Texas until 1984.

At this time I formed a partnership with Paul Medley.  Paul was an exceptional individual with an incredible knowledge of engineering and construction.  While working together as a team, Harker/Medley, Inc. enjoyed what was the biggest year in terms of size of projects and generated revenues than ever before.  Among these were a 12 story building, a planned community in Longview, TX. and a 300,000 square foot shopping center in Amarillo.  Most were never realized.  The economy in Texas collapsed suddenly into another severe recession.  We were forced to shut our doors.  Paul went on to work Fluor-Daniel Construction on international projects such as the Kansai International Airport in Osaka.  I decided to go into academia...and took a position at Kent State University.

In the second part of my career...

I have devoted myself to teaching.  I feel that this is the most important of endeavors.  It passes on the learning of a lifetime...and insures that future generations carry on the traditions of the profession of architecture.

After joining the Faculty of Architecture at Kent State University, I continued to practice as Charles L. Harker AIA.

One of my greatest “labors of love” while here at KSU was The Florence Program.  While serving as the coordinator, the program has undergone substantial growth.  It continues to provide a wonderful international experience to our students to this day.  Students tell us that their experience in Italy has to be one of the greatest experiences of their education...perhaps even of their life!

My attitude toward teaching is “Aristotelian” in nature.  It can be summed up in the following statement...

“ I don’t want you to copy me...I want you to search within, and show me what you feel is an essential expression of your own values as they relate to architecture.”

It is my job... my privilege...my joy, to help the students to find themselves.