Rice Real Estate Co., in partnership with Lincoln Property Co., today unveiled plans to develop a landmark research, laboratory and office building designed to catalyze world-class innovation and enterprise in Houston. The new facility, named The Arc at the Ion District, will bring almost 200,000 square feet of modern, flexible research and development space to the Ion District.
Accelerating collaboration, technology, discovery
The Arc’s location within the Ion District positions the new facility to extend the district’s success as a hub for innovative ideas and collaboration. The Ion building — now over 90% leased — includes tenants and corporate partners from Chevron, Microsoft, Aramco, Baker Botts, ExxonMobil, Oxy, BP, Shell, United, Transocean and Woodside Energy as well as leading startups and investors such as Persona AI and Liongard. This impressive roster demonstrates the Ion’s strong market demand as a destination for innovation-driven companies. The Arc, which will share a plaza with the Ion, will be purpose-built to accelerate the transition of ideas from the lab to the marketplace and support a broad spectrum of research and enterprise activities.
Rice University: Powering research at The Arc
Rice University will be a lead tenant at The Arc, occupying almost 30,000 square feet of premier office and lab space for its world-class faculty and students. Rice’s presence will offer cross-disciplinary research and idea exchange with a focus on key fields of energy, artificial intelligence, data science, robotics and computational engineering. The Arc will accelerate the translation of discoveries from the laboratory to real-world solutions by connecting Rice’s academic resources and research infrastructure with industry, institutional and entrepreneurial partners.
“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 President Reginald DesRoches said. “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. 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.”
A design for the future
Designed with flexibility, The Arc will offer floor plates ranging from 28,000 to 31,000 square feet and generous 15-foot floor-to-floor heights. Infrastructure will be future-proofed to accommodate advanced HVAC, high-capacity electrical and emergency power systems and core lab systems that meet demanding research requirements. The project is targeting LEED Gold certification, integrating smart building automation and energy-saving features to promote sustainability and operational excellence.
Within The Arc, tenants and visitors will benefit from a suite of amenities designed to foster wellness, creativity and community. Highlights include a fully equipped gym, an amenity lounge, conference and meeting spaces and expansive outdoor plazas for events and informal gatherings. Additional conveniences include underground parking, secure bike storage, on-site retail and dining and proximity to the METRORail Red Line — all within one of Houston’s most vibrant and walkable districts. Tenants will also have access to the Ion’s public amenities, including shared conference areas and the forum stairs amphitheater, further supporting opportunities for collaboration and community engagement.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Rice University and play a role in shaping the next chapter of the Ion District,” said Gabe Lerner, executive vice president of Lincoln Property Co. “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.”
“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.”
Construction timeline, preleasing
Construction on The Arc is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with completion anticipated in the first quarter of 2028. Preleasing opportunities are now open for organizations ready to join Rice at the heart of Houston’s innovation future. For more information, visit TheArcIonDistrict.com.