What we know
The Ion District is a technology park in Midtown and was established as a joint initiative between Rice University and the city of Houston, according to the business center's website.
The project first broke ground in July 2019 with The Ion, an innovation hub designed to be the district's anchor to support businesses, including start-ups and corporations, at all stages of their development lifecycle.
Today, The Ion's tenants include Chevron, Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Woodside Energy and Oxy, as well as different food and drink spots, startups and investors such as Liongard, a software company.
About the project
Now, construction on the newest facility is slated to begin in the second quarter of 2026. Per the release, The Arc will bring almost 200,000 square feet of "modern, flexible research and development" to the space. The building will share a plaza with The Ion and is intended to support research and enterprise activities.
"The Arc at the Ion District represents a rare opportunity to help add to and grow a nationally significant innovation hub right here in Houston—one that fosters breakthrough ideas, fuels inclusive economic growth and anchors the city’s rise as a global leader in science and technology," said Gabe Lerner, executive vice president of Lincoln Property Company.
Rice University, according to the release, will be a lead tenant at The Arc, occupying almost 30,000 square feet of office and lab space for its faculty and students.
Rice University President Reginald DesRoches said The Arc will offer the university the opportunity to deepen its commitment to fostering world-changing innovation.
“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," he said. "We look forward to building on our legacy of academic excellence to inspire new ventures, advance bold research and deliver solutions that will transform our community and the world around us.”
The university will focus on key fields of study, such as energy, artificial intelligence, data science, robotics and computational engineering, a field of study that involves applying advanced computational methods and analysis to engineering practice, according to Rice University.
The Arc will offer future tenants floor plates ranging from 28,000 to 31,000 square feet and 15-foot floor-to-floor heights. Per the release, the infrastructure will be future-proofed to accommodate advanced HVAC, high-capacity electrical and emergency power systems and core lab systems.
The project is also aiming to integrate smart building automation and energy-saving features.
Stay tuned
Construction will begin in the second quarter of 2026, with completion anticipated in the first quarter of 2028. Pre-leasing is open.
