The new entity will provide general contracting, tenantimprovement and construction management services to commercial,healthcare and community/sports center clients. Jossart tellsGlobeSt.com that the new entity will have more than $140 million inconstruction volume. "This really helps us, we had projectmanagement and development requests by clients in excess of $100million, but we didn't have the financial strength or depth to takeon that kind of work. Now we have the horsepower to do those largerprojects," he says.

He says the merger is complimentary to both firms. "We are verystrong in healthcare and community centers, and they are strong incommercial. Also, we're strong in the CBD, and they're not, andwe're strong in tenant relations while they work more for thelandlords," Jossart says. Bruce Palmer, SVP with United Properties,is assisting in the transition and integration of the twobusinesses. NorthMarq Real Estate Services, a Pohlad company, wasformed earlier this year handle the United Properties divisions,including brokerage, property management, construction andcorporate solutions.