Rice University Breaks Ground on the Arc, a Nearly 200,000-Square-Foot Research Hub in the Ion District
Rice broke ground Monday on the Arc, a seven-floor research and innovation building in the Ion District that will house the university's new AI Foundry, with Rice itself taking about 40 percent of the space and completion expected in the second quarter of 2028.
Rice University broke ground on Monday on the Arc, a nearly 200,000-square-foot research, corporate innovation and office building in the Ion District designed to bring researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and investors together under one roof. The seven-floor building will offer flexible lab and office space, and Rice will be a lead tenant, occupying nearly 80,000 square feet — about 40 percent of the building.
"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, in the university's announcement. Rice President Reginald DesRoches said the building will bring "Rice's extraordinary research and talent and Houston's impactful innovation ecosystem into even closer connection with the industries and innovators working to solve some of the world's most consequential challenges."
The Arc will house Rice's new AI Foundry, where faculty AI experts will work with industry partners on practical solutions, readiness assessments, feasibility studies and workforce training. The groundbreaking follows the university's recent announcement of a universitywide AI initiative to recruit 75 faculty members across disciplines. Work inside the building will span artificial intelligence and machine learning, data science, robotics, quantum science and engineering, and energy, the university said. The building is designed to meet LEED Gold criteria, with floor plates of 28,000 to 31,000 square feet and 15-foot floor-to-floor heights.
The project, developed by Rice Real Estate Co., will share a plaza with the Ion building, extending the 12-block Ion District. The Ion's corporate and industry partners include Chevron, Microsoft, Aramco, ExxonMobil, Oxy, Shell, United, Transocean and Woodside Energy. Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2028, and preleasing is open for companies that want to locate alongside Rice researchers.
