Rice University has unveiled the first architectural designs for Rice Nexus—a new makerspace at the Ion in Midtown that aims to bridge the gap between university staff, students and key corporate, government, community and venture capital firms, according to an Aug. 7 news release.

What you should know

Located in the "heart" of the Ion District's 16-acre campus, the facility is meant to offer collaboration and creativity in technology development and accelerate the commercialization of new technology, per the release.

Rice Nexus will span 10,000-square-feet across two floors of the Ion. Coined "the front door to Rice" in the release, the Nexus will showcase technologies invented by Rice faculty and students, and provide lab space for tech development and free office space for early stage startups.
Rice University unveiled the first architectural designs for the makerspace at the Ion, which aims to bridge the gap between university staff, students and key collaborators on technology advancements. (Rendering courtesy Tramonte Design Studio)
Rice University unveiled the first architectural designs for the makerspace at the Ion, which aims to bridge the gap between university staff, students and key collaborators on technology advancements. (Rendering courtesy Tramonte Design Studio)
Quote of note

In a statement on the creation of the new facility, Rice's chief innovation officer Paul Cherukuri expressed excitement for the facility's future offerings to staff, students and Houston at-large.


“We are thrilled to introduce the Nexus so that our faculty and students can rapidly develop, derisk and deploy solutions into the world by harnessing the full resources and capabilities of the Ion District,” Cherukuri said in the release. “Houston is a grand city of innovation, and the Nexus at the Ion further amplifies Rice as a global leader in inventing and commercializing world-changing technology at both speed and scale.”

Zooming in

Newly established climate tech companies founded by Rice faculty—including Solidec, Coflux Purification and DirectH2—will incubate at the Rice Nexus, per the release.

DirectH2 founder Aditya Mohite is also a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and materials science and nonengineering at Rice University, per the release. Mohite said in a statement the new space supports their efforts in pioneering essential hard tech development in the middle of the world's energy capital.
Newly established climate tech companies founded by Rice faculty—including Solidec, Coflux Purification and DirectH2—will incubate at the Rice Nexus, per the release. (Rendering courtesy Tramonte Design Studio)
Newly established climate tech companies founded by Rice faculty—including Solidec, Coflux Purification and DirectH2—will incubate at the Rice Nexus. (Rendering courtesy Tramonte Design Studio)
"The critical support provided through the Nexus highlights Rice's leadership ... revolutionizing the country’s next-generation clean energy and chemical manufacturing technologies while fostering the next generation of innovators in energy sustainability,” Mohite said in the release.


For more information about the Rice Nexus at the Ion, visit the Rice University Office of Innovation website.