Rice University and Lincoln Property Company have announced plans for a new research, lab, and office facility in Houston’s Ion District. The project, called The Arc at the Ion District, will be built on a parking lot next to the existing Ion building at 4201 Main Street. Construction is expected to begin next spring with completion scheduled for early 2028.
The Arc will cover 196,400 square feet. Rice University has committed to leasing 30,000 square feet of office and lab space in the building. This space will focus on areas such as energy, artificial intelligence, data science, robotics, and computational engineering. According to Rice officials, the goal is to support the commercialization of academic research by placing it alongside corporate partners, investors, and startups.
The design of The Arc includes flexible floor plates up to 31,000 square feet each and ceiling heights of 15 feet. It will feature high-capacity HVAC and power systems as well as amenities like a gym and outdoor event plazas. Developers are aiming for LEED Gold certification for sustainability standards. Tenants will also have access to amenities in the adjacent Ion building such as shared conference spaces and restaurants.
Located three miles from downtown Houston and one mile from Rice University’s main campus near a light-rail station, The Arc is part of efforts to expand the Ion District’s role as an innovation hub in Houston. Currently, the Ion building is about 90 percent leased with tenants that include major companies like Chevron, Microsoft, Aramco, Oxy, Shell and United Airlines along with newer firms such as Persona AI and Liongard.
“The Arc represents a rare opportunity to help grow a nationally significant innovation hub right here in Houston,” said Gabe Lerner of Lincoln Property Company.
Rice University sees this expansion as an extension of its campus that can drive growth in Houston’s innovation economy. Future plans include adding an incubator building within the district and moving its development office into the Ion.
