One of the principals of Studio Rebus is Kel Heyl, CPBD.

I first had to wrestle with gravity when I built a platform in an apple tree in our backyard outside Philadelphia when I was seven years old.

I started as an apprentice carpenter in 1978 building new homes in Plymouth, Minnesota.  A number of opportunities came my way and I ascended the ladder : lead carpenter, foreman, supervisor, superintendent and project manager.  I discovered I was more drawn to remodeling.

For six years I subcontracted carpentry for an insurance restoration company.  I received two lessons : how not to build and how to work with strangers who didn't want me in their homes. Much of what I did was repair other builders' poor work. The Minnesota hail and wind storms of May, 1998 presented a tremendous opportunity.  With my phone ringing off the hook, I went out on my own.  For the first year and a half Studio Rebus did, what a surprise, insurance restoration.  I began to move the company in the direction I always wanted to pursue : design-build.

In 1993 I passed the exam and received Minnesota Contractor's license number 8700.  In 2000 I completed all the requirements to be Certified as a Professional Building Designer.  My National Council of Building Designer Certification number is 24-102.  To be certified, three sets of construction documents were reviewed by my peers, I had to demonstrate six years of design experience, submit three letters of reference from fellow professionals and pass a two day long exam.  The first day covered everything from ethics to structural design and problem solving.  The second day I was given a plat with topo lines and a program.  I had to design a large residence in eight hours.

In 1999 I was appointed by Governor Ventura to the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design.  I chaired the Enforcement and Law Committee.  I served for two years.  I served as President of the Minnesota Society of the American Institute of Building Design.  In 2006 I founded the Minnesota Building Green Alliance.  Take a look at the MBGA page on this site.  In 2008 I created Greener is greener.

I take care of sales, design and project management for Studio Rebus.