crawford merz

What crawford merz does

Crawford Merz is a privately held commercial general contractor headquartered at 33 South Sixth Street in downtown Minneapolis, with a second office at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Founded in 1886 as J.W. Crawford Company and renamed Crawford Merz Construction in 1951, the firm is self-described as the oldest commercial construction company in the Twin Cities. It delivers two primary service lines — Design-Build and Tenant Improvement — across workplace, retail, hospitality, healthcare, fitness, and ground-up construction project categories for enterprise and mid-market commercial clients. Notable engagements include multi-floor law firm buildouts for Carlson Caspers (22,500 sq ft at Capella Tower) and Greenberg Traurig (Wells Fargo Center), consumer products work for Colgate-Palmolive, healthcare buildouts for Gravie and North Star Vascular, and preferred-contractor status for Mall of America.

The company operates a project-based, relationship-driven business model. Revenue is earned through fixed-price contracts, Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) arrangements, and negotiated agreements under both design-build and tenant improvement delivery methods. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with GMP options established during pre-construction phases. The go-to-market motion combines direct enterprise field sales with architect and developer referrals from named partners including Gensler, NELSON Worldwide, Pope Architects, Newmark, and Transwestern, supplemented by association participation (BOMA, IREM, MNCAR, MNCREW, AIA), trade shows, and community involvement via the Crawford Cares program. Internally, Todd Hayes serves as President after purchasing the firm in 2014; Chris Loberg and Blaine Kolles are minority partners since 2019; Mason Schmitz joined as CFO in January 2026.

The operating geography is concentrated in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, with extension into St. Cloud. Headcount sits in the 11–50 band, consistent with a focused regional GC rather than a multi-region platform. Crawford Merz holds no patents, has no external institutional investors or parent company, and has not raised external funding rounds. Recognition includes regional awards from REjournals (Top Interior Design 2022), Retrofit Magazine (Metamorphosis 2020), and Finance & Commerce (Top Projects 2019).

Name

crawford merz

Legal name

Crawford Merz LLC

Website

https://crawfordmerz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Crawford Merz is a privately held, family-owned commercial general contractor founded in 1886 in Minneapolis, delivering design-build and tenant improvement services across workplace, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and ground-up projects for enterprise and mid-market clients in the Twin Cities metro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. General Contracting Services: Crawford Merz generates revenue through commercial construction projects including design-build, tenant improvements, ground-up construction, and renovation services. Revenue is project-based, earned through fixed-price contracts, Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) arrangements, and negotiated agreements with commercial clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Crawford Merz is a commercial general contractor that delivers tenant improvements, design-build construction, ground-up construction, and renovation services for office, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and fitness clients in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Revenue is project-based, earned through fixed-price contracts and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) arrangements that include pre-construction budgeting, value engineering, and ongoing project management. The firm serves as the preferred contractor at Mall of America and operates as a family-owned company in continuous operation since 1886.

Product overview

Crawford Merz is a commercial construction company offering two primary service lines: Design-Build and Tenant Improvement. Their Design-Build service provides integrated design and construction delivery with single-source accountability and accelerated timelines. Their Tenant Improvement services handle renovations and build-outs for spaces ranging from small retail to large multi-story office projects. The company specializes in project categories including Workplace, Retail, Hospitality, Ground-Up Construction, Healthcare, and Fitness facilities, and serves as Mall of America's Preferred Contractor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design-Build Services Comprehensive design-build construction delivery method providing single source accountability, budget management, enhanced communication, and accelerated timelines. The service includes Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) determination early in the process and quality control throughout the project lifecycle.
• Tenant Improvement Expert tenant improvement services for spaces of all sizes, from 400 square foot retail spaces to multi-story office renovations. Includes pre-construction planning, preliminary estimating, value engineering, and communication through construction management software.

Quantifiable outcome

• Accelerated design and construction timelines through design-build delivery method
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Second Harvest HeartlandminorOthersCommunity partnership for food security; Crawford Merz employees volunteer to pack emergency food boxes at the Brooklyn Park facility, helping provide meals to food-insecure community members
• Feed My Starving ChildrenminorOthersAnnual participation in Pack at the Park events at Target Field; provides volunteer support for meal-packing events that feed children facing food insecurity globally
• Common HopeminorOthersPartnership with nonprofit working to end generational poverty in Guatemala through education, healthcare, housing; employees participate in Gift Hope Project and sponsor students
• Urban RootsminorOthersSt. Paul-based nonprofit cultivating youth through nature, healthy food, and community; employees volunteer at community gardens preparing for planting season
• Kids in Need FoundationminorOthersHeadquartered in Roseville, MN; provides school supplies to teachers and students in under-resourced areas; employees prepared 300 backpacks for students in need
• People Serving PeopleminorOthersLargest emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness in Minnesota; employees serve lunch at the dining hall and support homelessness prevention programs
• Joy CollaborativeminorOthersPartnership of designers, architects, and builders creating spaces for youth with life-limiting conditions; participated in Barkitecture Fundraiser building and auctioning doghouses
• Children's MinnesotaminorOthersAnnual support for Virtual Joy Drive providing toys and activities for pediatric patients; company matches employee donations up to $1,000
• Neighbor Inc.minorOthersLocal nonprofit providing food, clothes, emergency assistance, and holiday assistance to low-income families; employees sponsor and wrap holiday gifts for families in need
• NELSON WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm collaboration on commercial construction projects including lobby upgrades at 50 South Sixth building and other tenant improvement projects
• GenslercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal architecture firm partnership on projects including Loffler headquarters conversion, Gravie operations center, and Greenberg Traurig office expansion
• Pope ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional architecture firm partnership on Minnesota State System Office redesign and Remedy Wellness Clinic projects
• NewmarkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial real estate firm that facilitates tenant representation and refers clients for construction services on tenant improvement projects
• Transwestern MinneapolisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial real estate services firm; partnered on SK Coffee skyway location project
• BOMA Greater MinneapolisminorOthersBuilding Owners and Managers Association; corporate membership for networking, industry advocacy, and event participation including golf tournaments and trade shows
• IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management) MinnesotaminorOthersProfessional association for real estate managers; participates in annual golf tournaments, trade shows, and charitable events including food drives
• MNCAR (Minneapolis Area REALTORS)minorOthersReal estate industry association; participates in annual golf tournaments as sponsor
• MNCREW (Commercial Real Estate Women)minorOthersProfessional network for women in commercial real estate; participates in networking events and industry programs
• AIA (American Institute of Architects) MinnesotaminorOthersProfessional association for architects; participates in golf tournaments and industry events

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Greiner Construction: Minnesota-based commercial GC handling tenant improvements, healthcare, and ground-up work in the Upper Midwest, providing a regional benchmark on similar project types and client profiles.
• RJM Construction: Minneapolis-based commercial GC specializing in tenant improvements, healthcare buildouts, and corporate interiors — overlapping Crawford Merz's mid-market Twin Cities project profile.
• McGough Construction: Family-owned Twin Cities commercial GC with deep tenant improvement, healthcare, and workplace expertise, overlapping Crawford Merz's mid-market project profile and delivery model.
• Kraus-Anderson Construction: Minneapolis-based commercial general contractor with a comparable Twin Cities office, retail, and tenant improvement book of business and similar design-build delivery offerings.
• Gardner Builders: Minneapolis-based general contractor with a heavy concentration in commercial interiors and ground-up construction, frequently co-bidding with the same architect and CRE partners in the Twin Cities.
• Opus Design Build: Minneapolis-based design-build GC focused on commercial, healthcare, retail and office projects across the Upper Midwest, directly comparable in delivery method and customer mix.
• Messerly & Associates: Smaller Twin Cities commercial GC focused on interior buildouts and renovations for office and retail clients, closely comparable in scale and service mix to Crawford Merz.

Regional players

• Weis Builders: Minnesota-based commercial GC with similar tenant improvement and ground-up capabilities, but broader Upper Midwest geographic footprint that overlaps with Crawford Merz's Twin Cities core.

Broad incumbents

• Mortenson Construction: Much larger Minneapolis-headquartered national GC operating across commercial, healthcare, and energy. While significantly broader in scope and scale, it competes for the same regional design-build and tenant improvement mandates.
• JE Dunn Construction: Large national commercial GC with a Minneapolis office serving corporate interiors, healthcare, and retail clients at a scale well above Crawford Merz, competing for the same enterprise mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CrawfordMerz
• Facebookfacebook.com/CrawfordMerzLLC
• Instagraminstagram.com/crawfordmerzconstruction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crawford-merz-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about crawford merz