The Ion Innovation District Master Plan and Development Strategy
HR&A served as strategic partner and development advisor to Rice Management Company for The Ion and the broader 16-acre Ion District in Houston, overseeing real estate and programmatic development. This comprehensive advisory role has successfully transformed a former Sears building into a thriving innovation hub while laying the groundwork for a 3-5 million square foot mixed-use innovation district that fosters an inclusive tech ecosystem and creates equitable economic opportunities.
Beginning in 2018, HR&A led the selection of the planning and urban design team and oversaw the creation of a master plan that emphasized walkability, open space, and resilience. To catalyze the district, we managed the transformation of the former Sears building into The Ion, a 266,000-square-foot innovation hub now home to Microsoft, Chevron Technology Ventures, flexible workspaces, classrooms, event space, and minority-owned restaurants. HR&A guided the financial planning, tenant strategy, programming, branding, and community engagement to ensure that the building benefits its neighbors by fostering an inclusive, welcoming neighborhood and creating equitable economic opportunities. HR&A also supported Rice Management Company in negotiating a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with the City of Houston and in securing a development agreement with the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to fund essential infrastructure.
As the Ion District evolved, HR&A continued to advise on development strategy and partner selection for subsequent phases, while also underwriting Rice’s first affordable housing investment under the CBA. In collaboration with Rice Management Company and a broader consultant team, we helped shape a district that will reflect Houston’s diversity and position it as a national model for inclusive innovation. With early success, including the arrival of Greentown Labs and high-profile corporate tenants, the Ion District is poised for continued growth and long-term impact.
Explore:
Ion District: Houston’s Innovation Community
Press:
Welcome to Ion District, Houston’s innovation community
Microsoft signs on as tenant in The Ion innovation hub
Chevron signs on as first tenant in The Ion innovation hub
The Ion in Houston upgrades an art deco Sears into a tech-incubating cyborg
Awards and Recognition:
2021 The Ion