MAX ISLEY, AIA (1929-)

Max Isley was born in Caswell County NC and graduated from Burlington High School in 1947.  He enrolled at the University of Oklahoma where his freshman advisor was Henry Kamphoefner. When Kamphoefner moved to be the Dean of the NCSU School of Design, Isley moved with him.  A stint in the Army preceded his graduation from NCSU in 1957 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

From 1955 to 1956 he worked for Haskins and Rice.  From 1956 to 1957 he worked for Durham's John Latimer.  During 1957 to 1958 he was an architecture instructor at Montana State University in Bozeman MT.  In 1958, he moved to Boston and worked for Eduardo Catalano. 

In 1959 he received a Masters of Architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.  Then it's back to Montana to work for Oswald W. Berg, Jr., for a year.  Isley moved again to North Carolina and worked again for Durham's John Latimer.  In 1969 he was a partner in Smart, Woodall, Isley, and Herring with George Smart, Charlie Woodall, and Troy Herring.  The firm went through several name changes until Isley left in 1975 to start his own firm, Isley Architects. 

When he retired in 2004, the firm changed to Isley Hawkins, Inc. to reflect the transition of ownership to son Nathan Isley and J. Malcolm Hawkins.  Nathan and his brothers Duncan, Malcolm, and Alexander (with their Dad, right), all graduated from NCSU.

1968 - The Max and Jane Isley House, 4607 Chicopee Trail, Durham.  The Isleys lived in the house just a few months when it was sold to a second owner for a few years.  Sold in the 1970's to Allen C. And Patty A. Kelley.  Photos supplied by Nathan Isley and Allen Kelley.  Sold in 2011 to the Russell Michael Leiman Trust.  Featured on the TMH January 2010 Tour.

1970 - The Frank and Ellen Starmer House, 1411 Gray Bluff Trail, Chapel Hill.  Sold in 1998 to current owners Mike Green and Theda Purdue.  They added the garage; the original Isley design had only a carport. In keeping with the era, the couple owns a 1974 Airstream trailer and a 1972 Chevy Suburban.

1972 - The William (Bill) and Vee Green House, 2921 Rutgers Road (formerly Forest Road), Chapel Hill (but located in Durham County).  Jean Middleton drew up the plans.  Built by C. S. Whitt.  Sold in the 1990's to George Smart.  Sold in 2006 to Smart Development LLC.

1977 - The Irving T. and Joanne S. Diamond House, 4508 Cornwallis Road, Durham (located in Orange County).  Jean Middleton drew up the plans.  Sold in 2000 to current owners Richard K. and Tracey Lischer.   Built by Security Building Company.

1978 - The Donald D. and Barbara France House, 10621 Rougemont Road (aka South Lowell Road, SR 1465), Durham.  Built by Security Building Company.  Sold in 2002 to Paul Szabolcs and Maria Luisa Escolar.  Renovated by architect Guillermo Arias.  For sale in 2011.

1981 - The Thomas A. and Lynn Butters House, 46 Appleton Place, Durham.  A more traditional house sold to current owners Lutz and Mariel Birnbaumer.  Built by Clay Thomas and Jack McGee.