Aash Desai

Aash is a principal and co-founder of Helios Design + Build, and has vast experience in real estate development, construction management and real estate consulting, having managed the planning, development and construction of over $600M in residential, retail, transportation, office and mixed-use projects throughout the United States. Aash has been involved with several complex high profile projects for institutions such as the University of Chicago, corporate clients such as United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Whole Foods, The Boeing Company and BP, as well as numerous private developers and investors.

Aash is also a Director with Helios Realty and Development, where he is responsible for real estate development and investment strategy. Aash also serves on the Associate Board of directors and as a mentor for the ACE Mentoring Program of Illinois, which promotes careers in Architecture, Construction and Engineering to inter-city high school students. Aash has also lectured at several Universities on topics such as sustainability and construction delivery methodology.

Aash holds the LEED AP designation and is a licensed real estate broker in Illinois. Aash holds an MBA degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, with concentrations in real estate, organizational management and marketing, as well as a bachelors of science in construction degree from Bradley University. Prior to co-founding Helios Design + Build, Aash was the vice president of development for a national mixed-use development firm, having managed many of the firm’s largest projects for the Eastern United States. Aash also worked as a project and preconstruction manager for one of the world’s most prestigious construction companies.