Rice University, in partnership with Rice Real Estate and Lincoln Property Company, announced the development of “The Arc” at the Ion District, a 200,000-square-foot research, lab, and office facility, as detailed in a press release.
The Details:
The Arc will serve as a hub for energy, AI, data science, and robotics, co-locating Rice University researchers, startups, and corporate partners like Chevron and Microsoft, with construction starting in 2026 and completion targeted for early 2028.
The Ion District, already 90% leased, will accelerate innovation from lab to market, creating hundreds of jobs and reinforcing Houston’s status as a global tech leader.
Rice University President Reginald DesRoches said, “The Arc will drive economic growth by fostering collaboration and cutting-edge research.”
The project builds on Houston’s energy capital foundation, attracting further investment.
🏗️ Big news in Houston’s Midtown:
Rice University & Lincoln Property Co. will develop The Arc at the Ion, a 200K SF research, lab & office building in the Ion District.
🔹Rice to occupy ~30K SF
🔹LEED Gold targeted, high-tech lab systems
🔹Construction: Q2 2026 → Q1 2028— #Houstonomics (#@Houstonomics)
3:36 AM • Sep 17, 2025
Why It Matters:
This development strengthens Houston’s innovation ecosystem, boosting Texas’s economic competitiveness.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
🚨 Bills & Business Podcast: From the Lege to Leadership with Gavin Nicholson 🚨
We’re excited to share our latest episode, "Gavin Nicholson on Policy, Innovation, and Texas’ Future." In this conversation, @GavinRNicholson, Founder & CEO of the TexCap Policy Institute, joins
— #USLege (#@USLege_ai)
5:00 PM • Sep 25, 2025
🎙️Check out our Podcast! 🎙️
Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.
🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨
USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.
Say goodbye to tedious tasks!