Welsh says it plans to aggressively pursue tenants to fill the65% of available space, which could include building naming rightsfor a large tenant. Welsh has focused mostly on suburban propertiesin the past, and the International Centre complex is its first inthe central business district.

Welsh, based in Bloomington, owns about seven million sf ofoffice, industrial and retail space in the Midwest, mostly inMinnesota and Ohio. Among its other properties is the 440,000-sfSouthdale Office Centre in Edina.

"This acquisition is consistent with our investment philosophyof buying well located buildings, in markets we know and serve,"says Bob Angleson, president of Welsh Cos. Angleson says that the"market dynamics and expected increase in demand for space in theDowntown corridor" were the main reasons that attracted Welsh tobuy the property.