About Us
Excellence Makes Meaning
We support a culture of innovation and inclusivity.
Our teammates’ diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives help us drive innovation together and make us all better at what we do. We’re excited to work with clients with this commitment as well.
Our Work Philosophy
At Jo-Lu Studio, we believe well-made spaces can be ongoing sources of purpose and inspiration.
Bring us your ideas or plans, and we’ll use our ingenuity, experience, and imagination to come up with solutions you might not have expected.
We’ll meet you wherever you’re at — whether you’re an architect with detailed plans, a contractor with a deadline, or a homeowner with a vision. And we understand that timelines and budgets are also important keys to success.
Want to join our team?
Jo-Lu seeks out skilled creatives and builders to join our team of craftspeople, inventors and artisans. If you want to DIY your career, drop us a line.
OUr story
Meet Nick Rivers, Jo-Lu’s founder and lead instigator
For 15 years and counting, Nick Rivers has created unique objects and spaces, first as a Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)-trained designer, artist and teacher, and now leading his team at Jo-Lu Studio.
Jo-Lu is the culmination of Nick’s experience as a designer, builder, and entrepreneur and the result of his vision to offer a full range of design and build capabilities under one roof.
Over time, Nick’s ambitions, capabilities, and team have grown to include commercial buildouts and institutional clients, including restaurants, retail stores, hospitals, and museums. And Jo-Lu also keeps a foot in the world of residential design, welcoming creatively challenging home design and remodeling projects.
Nick loves to collaborate with homeowners, business owners, architects, interior designers, and others seeking an experienced, design-forward partner with the vision to help bring their ideas and plans to life. His wide range of technical expertise — from CNC fabrication to woodwork to welding to prototyping — and dedication to craftsmanship inform all of his team’s work.
Recipient of several artistic fellowships and other honors, Nick’s focus now is on doing exceptional work for clients and creating inspiring spaces and objects.
Our Inspiration
What’s in a name? Everything.
The name Jo-Lu comes from founder Nick and Brooke Rivers’ daughters: Josephine and Luella who are never-ending wells of inspiration.
Nick and his partner Brooke continue to pursue the dream together, and their busy, full lives constantly inform their outlook on fostering creativity, leading the Jo-Lu team and building relationships with clients. The authenticity and imagination of a child is at the heart of Jo-Lu. But all dreams require unwavering belief of their actualization. Brooke’s unwavering support and belief in Nick’s pursuit of starting a creative builder business has been foundational to Jo-Lu’s success. Together, they’re committed to doing work that will remain meaningful into the next generation and beyond.
