Construction on the Arc is expected to last through 2028. (Rendering courtesy Bogza)
Rice University officials broke ground Nov. 4 on the Arc, a nearly 200,000-square-foot research and office building in the Ion District.
The overview
The Arc will feature seven floors of flexible lab and office space. Floor plates will range from 28,000 to 31,000 square feet, with 15-foot floor-to-floor heights and infrastructure capable of supporting advanced HVAC and core laboratory requirements such as high-capacity electrical and emergency power systems, according to a news release.
The building will also include conference and meeting spaces, an amenity lounge, fitness center, outdoor plaza, underground parking, bike storage and on-site retail and dining. Work within the building will include artificial intelligence, data science, robotics, quantum science and engineering.
Kelly Fox, Rice executive vice president for operations, finance and support, said the Arc is being designed as a destination where companies can access sophisticated infrastructure, connect with one another and build the relationships that lead to new ideas and opportunities.
Something to note
The Arc will share a plaza with the Ion building, which is a hub for corporate and industry partners such as Chevron, Microsoft, ExxonMobil and United.
The Ion District as a whole is a technology park in Midtown and was established as a joint initiative between Rice University and the city of Houston, per prior reporting.
Project officials said together the two distinct buildings are expected to create a "more connected environment" where researchers, entrepreneurs, established companies and the broader Houston community can work, meet and exchange ideas.
The Arc will complement the Ion building, the namesake centerpiece of Houston's innovation corridor. Rendering courtesy Bogza
What else?
The groundbreaking of the Arc comes on the heels of Rice's recent announcement to launch a university-wide AI initiative, which includes hiring 75 interdisciplinary faculty members and offering new programs and facilities.
Per the release, Rice's new research and innovation hub, called AI Foundry, will be located inside the Arc and will occupy close to 80,000 square feet, or about 40% of the building.
The Foundry is expected to support organizations through AI readiness assessments, feasibility studies, executive education and customized workforce training.
“The Arc is a significant investment in Rice’s future and in Houston’s continued growth as a center for innovation,” said Robert T. Ladd, chairman of the Rice Board of Trustees. “It will create new opportunities for industry leaders, researchers and students to work together on ideas with the potential for lasting impact.”
The timeline
Construction on the Arc, which is being developed by Rice Real Estate Co. for approximately $75 million, is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2028. Pre-leasing is already open for interested companies and organizations.
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