Since 1986, Spectrum Real Estate has been very active in the River North office and residential marketplace, with a specific emphasis on the rehabilitation and ownership of the “lofted” office variety. Together, with its construction affiliate Merger Industries, the principals have acquired, developed, and rehabbed both River North and Chicagoland properties, with a concentration in River North, a Soho-like area in which they were participants in the original pioneer effort of redevelopment for the area. Spectrum and Merger have contributed to the development of over 1,200,000 square feet of space in Chicago. They currently have an office building portfolio which consists of 800,000 square feet covering seven River North office buildings. The seven building portfolio is unique in River North based on superior location, superior construction, and “hands-on” ownership. The principals of Spectrum and Merger, Messrs. Jerry Lasky and Murray Peretz, have been involved with River North office and residential loft development since 1980. In the late 1990’s, Spectrum also successfully completed Union Square, a 3-phase, 217 Unit residential condominium project, also in River North, which included the construction of a 4-story addition to a 6-story 1910 warehouse building.