National Real Estate Development Reaches Major Construction Milestone at Aviator House in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, National Real Estate Development, LLC, announced a key milestone in the conversion of 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, now officially named Aviator House, from a former office building into a 157-unit residential community.
The project has achieved startup of permanent electrical power by Pepco — an accomplishment celebrated with an inaugural “Power Up” event attended by project partners, skilled electricians of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), their management partners at the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and other stakeholders.
Located in Dupont Circle, Aviator House is one of the region’s first large-scale office-to-residential conversions to break ground under the District of Columbia’s Housing in Downtown initiative. The iconic building was originally designed by Vlastimil Koubek in 1971 as the headquarters for the Air Line Pilots Association. The conversion, designed by Eric Colbert & Associates, with interiors by Gaëtane & Co. Design, and facade input by DXA Studio, preserves key elements of the building’s modern design.
“Reaching permanent power is a critical milestone that keeps this transformative project on track for its Spring 2026 completion,” said Katie Hartley, managing director of National Real Estate Development. “With the dedication of the contractors and subcontractors we are a major step closer to delivering a unique housing option that will reshape this premier location into a vibrant hub for residents and visitors.”
The new name, Aviator House, pays tribute to the building’s heritage as a home for the Air Line Pilots Association, while also signaling its new chapter as a modern residential community. Upon completion, Aviator House will feature a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units, lush landscaping at street level, inviting amenity spaces inspired by the golden age of aviation, sustainable elements including all-electric building systems, green roofs, and extensive stormwater management.
The project is owned by National Real Estate Advisors, LLC on behalf of its clients. Clark Construction serves as the general contractor, and Bank of America is providing construction financing. The project received concept approval from the D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board in 2023 and broke ground in October 2024. The project was also one of the first to receive a 20-year tax abatement through Washington D.C.’s Housing in Downtown program, which supports conversion of underutilized office buildings into residential use.
For more information, visit www.natrealestatedevelopment.com or www.aviatorhouseDC.com.
About National Real Estate Development, LLC
National Real Estate Development, LLC (“National Development”) is a real estate development firm focused on developing innovative, high-quality projects throughout the country. Since its inception in 2013, National Development’s direct development projects that are completed or under construction have totaled nearly 6.3 million square feet in major markets such as Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
National Development specializes in multi-faceted projects across the country. With a proven track record of creating dynamic, vibrant spaces designed to foster connections, National Development’s talented professionals actively seek out unique, challenging, and forward-thinking ventures. From land acquisition to delivering the final project, the team possesses a diverse skill set and extensive expertise, which ensures the highest standards in quality and design. National Development has expertise developing across all major real estate asset classes, including mixed-use, apartments, traditional and medical office, and industrial properties.
Notable projects include East Market in Philadelphia, The Stacks in Washington, D.C., The Bloc in Los Angeles, and 100 Van Ness in San Francisco. National Development is the wholly owned, full-service development subsidiary of National Real Estate Advisors, LLC. To learn more, visit www.natrealestatedevelopment.com.
About National Real Estate Advisors, LLC
National Real Estate Advisors, LLC (“National”) is an investment manager developing, operating, and managing commercial real estate projects across the United States. Since 2000, National’s investment team has been constructing investment portfolios of diverse property assets — primarily multifamily, data centers, office, healthcare, and medical buildings. National manages separate accounts and multiple commingled investment vehicles. National seeks to create value for investors by adhering to a rigorous investment process and development principles guided by profits, integrity, community, and collaboration. National is an independently operated subsidiary of the National Electrical Benefit Fund (“NEBF”), a pension trust with assets that are managed by National on a discretionary basis. For more information, please visit www.natadvisors.com.