From 1972-2000, Richard and Lonna Harkrader founded, owned and operated New Morning Construction and New Morning Realty, two businesses that built numerous passive solar, energy efficient homes and apartments with a unique architectural style in and around the Morehead Hill neighborhood of Durham. NC Modernist and Preservation Durham are thrilled to offer you a retrospective into their work and impact.

Richard Harkrader is one of Durham's pioneers in energy-efficient construction and passive solar design. Though he received a degree in architecture from Cornell University, he says nothing he learned in school prepared him for his career as an innovator and builder of solar-powered homes. In 1976, Richard and his wife Lonna founded New Morning Construction. Their unique, environmentally-conscious designs became known as "Harkrader Houses" among Durham's built-environment cognoscenti. Over fifteen years, they built 60 houses and 15 apartment buildings—all incorporating passive solar design with south-facing windows, thermal mass brick floors, energy efficient insulation, and solar hot water systems. Many were built on challenging build sites and incorporated features such as stilts with bridge walkways, turning difficult sloping lots into assets. One early home was built for twin brothers Wib and Dub Gulley—Wib went on to become Mayor of Durham. Harkrader's influence extended to state energy policy. He served three times as Chair of the NC Sustainable Energy Association and seven years as environmental representative on the NC Legislative Study Commission on Electric Utility Deregulation. He championed NC's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, making North Carolina the first Southeastern state to pass such legislation in 2007. That same year, he built the Southeast's first utility-scale solar project. Industry observers call him the "grandfather of solar energy in NC."

Lonna Harkrader founded New Morning Construction with Richard and worked as a carpenter in the early days. Later she was the company’s licensed real estate broker. She sold the homes that the company built, and leased apartments that the company built over time. She was responsible for interfacing with all of NMC’s customers, both homeowners and renters. By 1990, when they closed down NMC, they had 45 rental apartments which they continued to manage for another 15 years. Around 2006, they sold most of the rental units to the Durham Community Land Trustees and they remain affordable housing units near downtown Durham.

Together, the Harkraders co-founded Sister Communities of San Ramón Nicaragua in 1993, providing $2 million over thirty years for schools, water projects, and community development while running an award-winning eco-lodge and organic coffee operation, and introducing generations of Triangle residents to the kindness of the Nicaraguan people. Richard and Lonna's careers represent an integrated vision of sustainability—from individual homes and apartments designed to work with the sun and natural surroundings, to state policies enabling renewable energy, to international partnerships built on mutual respect and environmental stewardship. Harkrader houses stand throughout Durham as physical evidence of what was possible when someone chose to do things differently.

Carson Harkrader House, 136 Solterra Way

Harkrader House, 1320 Shepherd Street

701 Cobb Street

Harkrader Apartment, 1310 Hill Street

1211 Carroll Street

1501 West Lakewood Avenue

Tickets are $10/person!

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The Fine Print

Tickets are not mailed; your name will be on a list at registration.

For the tour, you'll be assigned a start time and central starting point downtown. There you'll quickly pick up a wristband for admission to all the houses.

Once payment is made, there are no refunds for any reason except for tour cancellation. However, you can transfer your place to another person with at least a week's written notice to devra@usmodernist.org. The tour runs rain or shine. The itinerary is subject to change without notice or refund.

A signed liability release is required for all participants. We'll send this to you ahead of time. Please read, print, sign, and bring with you to registration; do not email them. Those travelling together may sign the same form. Parents must sign for and accompany anyone under 18. Most houses are not ADA accessible. Participants must navigate stairs unaided and be able to walk for at least 45 minutes a time.

Architects can get self-reported CEU hours if arranged in advance with the AIA.

To reduce dirt and damage to floors, tour participants are required to remove shoes (or bring your own booties) at each house.

Food, drink, strollers, smoking, and alcohol are not allowed in the houses.

All proceeds support the nonprofits NCModernist and Preservation Durham.