Chuck Harrison '81
Whether he's designing a 1700 square foot mountain getaway or a 10,000 square foot mansion, Chuck Harrison '81 is in his element.
As vice president-architectural at Blair Custom Homes, Chuck is using his Northampton Community College degree in architectural technology to the fullest. In Pennsylvania, his associate's degree enables him to design single-family dwellings and commercial buildings, so in 1981, armed with his newly earned diploma, Chuck went job hunting.
He started out working at a non-architecture related job before securing a position with an architectural firm. That job led to one with a local builder, then on to another architectural company before landing eight years ago at Blair Custom Homes, a locally owned company that has progressed from building the basic ranch tract homes of the early '60s to the individually designed executive abodes of today.
Interviewed at his office in the wooded hills of Lower Saucon Township, surrounded by many of his award-winning designs and his work in progress, Chuck reflected on his time studying architecture at NCC, where he met his wife, then Betsy Camp ('80 medical assistant), at Springfest during their first year. Soon they'll celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
Chuck gives NCC's architecture program a "thumbs up" and credits Professor Emeritus John Michael with both inspiring and preparing him for his profession. "John Michael was head of the architecture program when I was there," Chuck says. "His program was phenomenal and he really left a legacy at Northampton."
As a designer, Chuck has been involved in both commercial and residential projects, but said he prefers "to do homes." His firm does both design and construction, which few other companies do, he says. Specializing in higher end construction, Blair recently completed the home of the CEO of Olympus in preparation for the corporation's arrival in the Lehigh Valley next year.
Chuck's designs are award winners. In 2003, he won three first place and one second place award at the American Institute of Building Design national competition. Two of the awards were for homes located in the Lehigh Valley. In 2004 he earned two first places and the Best of Show award at the competition, which means that his designs were the best the judges saw.
However, just because Chuck designs luxury homes, don't think he necessarily wants to live in one. "People think that because I design homes, I must have a big fancy house," says the Phillipsburg High School graduate. "But mine's about 1600 square feet and I'm perfectly happy and comfortable with that. Some of the kitchens in the homes we build are as big as my house!"
With elaborate kitchen and bath design so popular now, he says, the need for diversity in architecture training is important and competition is tough. But if he could turn back the clock, he'd do it again, with a few additions to his training.
"Architecture is a very challenging field and finding that career job is tough," he says. "If I were doing it today, I'd probably go for a five-year degree in architecture. It took me 20 years to get where I am; maybe I could have gotten here sooner!"
Would he have still started at Northampton? "Oh yeah. I was so lucky with my timing. I was just so fortunate to be there when John Michael was there. He was such a driving force. And I've heard that Ken Trionfo, who heads the program now, is also incredible. Northampton's a great place."
