Houston’s innovation corridor is set to significantly expand with a new, 200,000 square foot research building at the Ion District. Dubbed The Arc, the state-of-the-art facility will be developed by Rice Real Estate Co., in partnership with Lincoln Property Co.
Set to break ground in 2026, The Arc is designed to accelerate the journey of ideas from lab to market, serving as a hub for research and enterprise activities.
Rice University will anchor the project, occupying more than 30,000 square feet of office and lab space to drive collaboration across key industries such as energy, artificial intelligence, data science, robotics and engineering.
“The Arc will offer Rice the opportunity to deepen its commitment to fostering world-changing innovation by bringing our leading minds and breakthrough discoveries into direct engagement with Houston’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Rice University President Reginald DesRoches said in a news release. “Working side by side with industry experts and actual end users at the Ion District uniquely positions our faculty and students to form partnerships and collaborations that might not be possible elsewhere.”
Inside The Arc
The Arc will be equipped with modern infrastructure to support advanced HVAC, high-capacity electrical and emergency power systems to meet research requirements. The facility will also feature smart building automation and energy-saving elements, with the goal of achieving LEED Gold certification, a leading standard for sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings.
“The Arc at the Ion District will be more than a building — it will be a catalyst for the partnerships, innovations and discoveries that will define Houston’s future in science and technology,” said Ken Jett, president of Rice Real Estate Co. “By expanding our urban innovation ecosystem, The Arc will attract leading organizations and talent to Houston, further strengthening our city’s position as a hub for scientific and entrepreneurial progress.”
Additional amenities include a gym, amenity lounge, conference and meeting rooms and outdoor plazas for community gatherings. Tenants and visitors will also have access to underground parking, bike storage, retail and dining facilities, all in proximity to the METRORail Red Line.
Building on the Ion’s Momentum
Sharing a plaza with the Ion building, now more than 90 percent leased, The Arc will have direct access to a large community of corporate partners, startups, institutions and investors, including Chevron, Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Persona AI and Liongard. Scheduled for completion in 2028, the new facility will further strengthen Houston’s innovation ecosystem and draw additional businesses to the region.
Explore Houston’s innovation ecosystem and learn how the Ion District is driving growth.