Taylor Odum, Author at Ion District

TXRX Labs Named Partner and Operator of The Ion Prototyping Lab

Posted on January 31, 2022May 8, 2023 by Taylor Odum

The Ion, a 266,000 square-foot innovation hub, today announced TXRX Labs, a Houston-based non-profit ideation, innovation, and training provider, will serve as the operator of The Ion Prototyping Lab. Officially named The Ion Prototyping Lab (IPL) powered by TXRX, the IPL is an innovation center that will allow startups and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and industries access to equipment and technical support. Officially open today, it is the only space of this type in Houston that provides physical innovation capabilities in a collaborative and centralized hub open to the public.

TXRX’s services at the IPL will provide the Houston community with support, equipment, and hands-on training to jumpstart the activity of entrepreneurs, corporations, and researchers, such as scaling ideas or developing a physical model of a product. TXRX’s workforce development training and classes will focus on makers, equipment operation, and CAD/CAM. TXRX also offers ideation services, which include coaching, consulting, and prototyping to address startups’ challenges. Technical support and engineering resources will be provided through a staff of ideation, engineering, and fabrication experts.

Current programming guided by TXRX includes:

● Hands-on training classes in critical digital and manual skills such as SolidWorks, Mastercam, soldering, and embedded development.

● A Lunch and Learn event series that touches on emerging technologies like additive manufacturing, generative design, and IoT development.

● An internship program connecting startups and entrepreneurs with emerging engineering talent from Houston’s many universities.

“The Houston community’s growing need for these services has led to our growth from a small community organization to a partnership with Houston’s leading center for innovation, The Ion,” said Roland von Kurnatowski, President of TXRX Labs. “With our presence at The Ion and in its Prototyping Lab, we are able to join together innovative ideas and technology to create a social and collaborative space to support tomorrow’s entrepreneurs’ needs and challenges. You think it, we make it.”

The IPL’s 6,500 square-foot space was designed by the Houston office of global architecture and design firm Gensler, and is the largest open corporate and startup-aligned prototyping space in Houston. The IPL’s equipment and engineering resources are provided by TXRX and The Ion, which includes prototyping and small-batch manufacturing tools, such as laser cutters, CNC mills and lathes, electronics assembly equipment, and 3D printers. The space also has onsite access to engineers and advanced technicians in industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, software engineering, additive manufacturing, welding, machining, and laser cutting.

“As part of Gensler’s contributions to the development of The Ion, we strategically designed the Prototyping Lab to function as a dedicated space for innovators and entrepreneurs to collaborate,” said Vincent Flickinger, Senior Associate and Design Director of Gensler Houston. “The Ion Prototyping Lab is equipped with tools for prototyping robotics and other energy-focused innovations and cultivates an entirely new way of doing business in a reimagined, historic building and with one of Houston’s fastest-growing innovators, TXRX. We look forward to introducing the IPL’s offerings to the public.”

“With every step forward, with each new partner added and ongoing input from the community, we are solidifying Houston’s position as the epicenter for innovation and technology,’ said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “There is a growing need for these services among Houston’s startup community. Having ideas is one thing. Being able to execute them is far more difficult, especially if you are a small organization without the financial resources of big corporations and research labs. With The Ion Prototyping Lab powered by TXRX, we are breaking down the barriers that too often prevent entrepreneurs from taking their discoveries from the drawing board to reality.’

“This is another big step forward in realizing the vision for The Ion. The addition of The Ion Prototyping Lab to the Ion District will further drive highly productive collaborations between entrepreneurs, corporations, academics, and the greater Houston community,” said David Leebron, President of Rice University. “We’re thrilled to be opening the IPL in The Ion as these collaborations will not only strengthen Houston’s economic resiliency and competitiveness but attract and retain innovative talent, companies, and institutions.”

With a low-cost membership, participants will be able to access the IPL. For individuals who may need financial assistance, the IPL also provides grant opportunities. Before using the space and its equipment, participants will need to complete a safety and skills training course. Open hours for the IPL are from 9 am to 5 pm CST.

About the Ion

Ion: Where ideas go to grow. Located in Ion District, the namesake building is the transformative centerpiece of Houston’s innovation corridor. Designed to bring our city’s entrepreneurial, corporate, and academic communities into collaborative spaces and programs, the sunlit structure of steel and glass is a home for advancing diverse knowledge, teams, technologies, and products that propel our world forward. From Fortune 500s seeking flexible office space to first-time startups looking for the funding to design a prototype, the Ion provides wide-reaching space and support to connect every What if with What now?—welcoming individuals and teams of all kinds to a place to build a better way.

About TXRX Labs: Established in 2008, TXRX Labs is a non-profit innovation and job training provider for the greater Houston area. Housed in the East End District, TXRX offers engineering and fabrication services along with job training programs for in-demand careers, along with courses in and access to its rapid prototyping labs, woodshop, machine shop, electronics lab, and a wide variety of other tools for the public. Its goal is to make Houston the 21st-century manufacturing Hub of the United States to ensure a vibrant and equitable economy for all Houstonians.

About Gensler: Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 49 locations across Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Founded in 1965, the firm serves more than 3,500 active clients in virtually every industry. Gensler designers strive to make the places people live, work, and play more inspiring, more resilient, and more impactful.

The Ion Taps Hyper Local Craft Beer Concept– Second Draught – To Round Out Dynamic Roster of Food and Beverage Offerings at Houston’s Innovation Community Hub

Posted on October 6, 2021May 8, 2023 by Taylor Odum

The Ion announced today that it will add another hyper-local concept to its already robust food & beverage offerings at the newly opened innovation hub in the iconic former SEARS building in Midtown. Second Draught *– a 2,000-square-foot taproom from the creators of neighborhood brewpub Baileson Brewing Company – will serve up a noteworthy selection of pours from Houston’s 70+ craft breweries when it opens in its high-profile street-level space in Q1 2022.

Second Draught is the latest addition to the Ion’s diverse dining options, which include Late August – a new concept by celebrated Chef Chris Williams of Lucille’s fame in partnership with Top Chef finalist Chef Dawn Burrell; The Lymbar, a neighborhood craft cocktail bar and restaurant with Latin and Mediterranean flavors from Chef David Cordúa; Common Bond – the newest on-the-go iteration of the popular bistro and bakery; and STUFF’d Wings – the first brick-and-mortar location of Jarrod Rector’s popular food truck (within the broader Ion District).

“We are excited to join the Ion as a communal space for building tenants, partners, and visitors to grab a pint of beer and exchange ideas,” noted Sarah Pope, Co-Founder of Second Draught. She added, “We will showcase the great beer being made right here in Houston and give smaller operators the chance to be tasted in the city’s most prominent setting for innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Adam Cryer, Pope’s husband and Co-Founder at Baileson Brewing Company, said the opportunity to help fledgling local craft brewers gain a wider following was a big part of the appeal of becoming the Ion’s taproom operator. “This environment is all about incubating start-ups and giving creators the support to succeed. We want to do the same for Houston’s craft beer scene. Call us the incuBrewer,” he quipped.

Pope and Cryer plan to foster a welcoming and cozy space that becomes part of the neighborhood fabric. “We hope to be another community gathering place where people can meet, connect, drink beer, and brainstorm,” said Pope. She added, “The next technology breakthrough idea could very well happen on a napkin in our bar, so we want to make sure it’s a place where people want to be.”

Burdette Huffman of The Blue Ox Group represented Rice Management Company in the leasing transaction for Second Draught.

*noun. draught /draft”

1. British spelling of draft

adjective: draught

1. denoting beer or other drink that is kept in and served from a barrel or tank rather than from a bottle or can.

“draft beer”

About the Ion

Chef David Cordúa to open The Lymbar at The Ion

Posted on August 1, 2021May 8, 2023 by Taylor Odum

Chef David Cordúa will open The Lymbar, a neighborhood craft cocktail bar and restaurant with Latin and Mediterranean flavors, this fall at The Ion (4201 Main St.) – the technology and community hub that will anchor a 16-acre innovation district in Houston’s Midtown. The restaurant will be housed in the building’s street level “jewel-box” corner suite and will contain approximately 120 seats in over 4,000 SF of indoor and outdoor dining space, with an emphasis on barrel-aged spirits, small plates and a vertical rotisserie in a theater-style open kitchen.

Gin Braverman of Houston-based Gin Design Group, a longtime Cordúa family friend, is designing the space. The concept is named after Lymbar Drive, the tight knit, ethnically diverse community where Cordúa grew up in Southwest Houston.

The Lymbar joins three other recently announced innovation district restaurants: Late August – a new concept by chef partners Chris Williams of Lucille’s and Dawn Burrell, the James Beard Award-winning semifinalist and current Top Chef contestant; STUFF’d Wings – the first brick-and-mortar version of the acclaimed Third Ward-area food truck; and Common Bond Café – a new on-the-go iteration of the perennially popular bistro and bakery. Collectively, the hyperlocal concepts will establish a culinary nucleus that will help pave the way for a vibrant and bustling district when they begin opening this summer in the epicenter of Houston’s innovation ecosystem.

Cordúa, the former executive chef/owner at Américas and Churrascos, is partnering with his father, Michael Cordúa, on the project. The Lymbar is the first concept from the beloved father-son duo since their departure from Cordúa Restaurants. Michael Cordúa – a native of Nicaragua — founded Churrascos in 1988, introducing a new wave of Latin cuisine to Houston and earning rave reviews from Food & Wine, Esquire and more.

David Cordúa – who was born in Houston and graduated from Strake Jesuit College Preparatory — earned his culinary diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. He spent more than a decade with his family’s restaurant group from 2007-18, helping to oversee award-winning concepts Américas, Churrascos, Artista and Amazón Grill.

The Lymbar will continue that storied culinary tradition, but with the inclusion of global influences from afar, presented in a manner that showcases David Cordúa’s roots in French cooking. With a menu that represents an evolution of the father-son duo’s renowned culinary creativity, the concept is “a lifetime in the making,” says David.

“If Churrascos and Américas were our family story in Central America, The Lymbar is our first opportunity to tell our family story in Houston,” David Cordúa said. “We’re really excited to be a place where people meet, think, eat and drink in The Ion, and we look forward to being a part of the heartbeat of Houston’s new innovation district.”

Among the Cordúas’ neighbors on Lymbar Drive were Braverman; the Droubi family, owners of Droubi’s Bakery & Delicatessen; and the Garcia-Prat family, owners of Finca Tres Robles Farm. Each of their influences will be reflected at The Lymbar: Braverman through her design, the Droubi family through Lebanese and Mediterranean menu items, and the Garcia-Prats through local produce sourced from their farm.

The Lymbar will be the first bar-forward concept from the Cordúas, centered around a craft cocktail program with an emphasis on barrel-aged spirits. The bar’s core identity will feel classic and vintage, mirroring the food menu with cocktails that pay homage to Latin, South American and Mediterranean influences. The bar itself will be a glowing presence, located in front of the stunning floor-to-ceiling bay windows of the space.

Burdette Huffman with Blue Ox represented the Rice Management Company, and Emily Durham with Waterman Steele represented Cordúa. The Lymbar will serve lunch, dinner, and drinks seven days a week. Brunch and happy hour will be added in the future.

About The Lymbar The Lymbar is a bar-forward concept with Latin and Mediterranean flavors from chef David Cordúa, located at 4201 Main St. at The Ion in Midtown Houston. It is slated to open in Fall 2021. Stay tuned for more information on The Lymbar’s opening date.

About the Ion

Baker Botts Joins The Ion as a Founding Partner to Uplift Houston’s Innovation Ecosystem

Posted on March 16, 2021May 8, 2023 by Taylor Odum

The Ion, Houston’s new innovation hub, today announced world-renowned law firm Baker Botts L.L.P. joins The Ion as a Founding Partner, alongside previously announced partners Microsoft and Chevron Technology Ventures.

Baker Botts, a Houston headquartered leading international energy, technology and life sciences law firm, has supported The Ion since its inception and has provided programming in its temporary space and virtually for the past few years. The firm will also have a presence at The Ion when it opens its 266,000-square-foot mixed-use structure later this year. The space is designed to become the epicenter for Houston’s innovation ecosystem focusing on quality collaborations between entrepreneurs, incubators, accelerators, corporations, academics, and the Houston community.

“Today’s announcement not only solidifies Baker Botts’ investment in The Ion and the programs we are activating but is a commitment to growing Houston’s innovation ecosystem,” said Dr. Jan E. Odegard, Interim Executive Director of The Ion. “Baker Botts’ work with The Ion has already helped countless entrepreneurs get their work off the ground, and we are excited for their support as we continue to accelerate innovation and connect communities to build sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Houston.”

About Our Efforts:

The firm’s space at The Ion will enable attorneys to more easily provide programming to Houston’s tech community, support initiatives for the diverse entrepreneurs The Ion serves as part of its Accelerator Hub and mentor new emerging companies. Together, Baker Botts and The Ion will work together to:

● Provide in-kind services to this year’s Houston Startup Showcase Winner

● Offer on-site presence to support The Ion’s various community members and provide substantive programming to startups

● Host legal programming and workshops for The Ion’s Accelerator Hub members

● Expand gateway events, including The Ion’s Family Tech Night and Plaza Tec series

“Given our market-leading strengths in Houston, this is an exciting opportunity for the firm,” said John Martin, Managing Partner of Baker Botts. “Our participation with The Ion brings together lawyers across our corporate venture capital, energy tech, IP, and other practices to work closely with a range of cutting-edge companies at the heart of the Texas startup ecosystem.”

Baker Botts’ new sponsorship also signifies both organizations’ commitment to supporting the clean energy transition. The firm has also announced it will become a founding supporter of the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship (Rice Alliance) and its new Clean Energy Accelerator. The Accelerator will be based out of The Ion, and together The Ion and Alliance will work together to increase the likelihood of success for early-stage energy startups building solutions for a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable future.

About the Ion

About Baker Botts L.L.P.: Baker Botts is an international law firm of approximately 725 lawyers practicing throughout a network of 13 offices around the globe. Based on our experience and knowledge of our clients’ industries, we are recognized as a leading firm in the technology and energy sectors. Since 1840, we have provided creative and effective legal solutions for our clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence. For more information, please visit bakerbotts.com.

The Ion Announces a Trio of Local Restaurants

Posted on February 11, 2021May 8, 2023 by Taylor Odum

The Ion and the surrounding District today unveiled plans for three local culinary favorites slated to open in early summer 2021: Late August – a new concept by celebrated Chef Chris Williams of Lucille’s fame in partnership with Chef Dawn Burrell; STUFF’d Wings – the first brick-and-mortar location of Jarrod Rector’s eponymous food truck; and Common Bond – the newest on-the-go iteration of the popular bistro and bakery.

“The new restaurants coming to The Ion and District showcase Houston’s deep culinary culture and local flare that Houstonians identify and connect with. We’re excited for The Ion and District to be a place that celebrates and supports Houston’s diverse entrepreneurial community,” noted Sam Dike, Manager of Strategic Initiatives at Rice Management Company, which is leading the development of The Ion and surrounding District.

Late August – a concept from the newly-formed Lucille’s Hospitality Group – represents a culinary collaboration between LHG chefs Chris Williams and Dawn Burrell. Seeking to honor the past while feeding the future, the restaurant pays heartfelt homage to the dissolving department store era; namely, The Ion’s iconic former tenant, SEARS.

With the indelible legacy of SEARS in mind, the name Late August is directly tied to the seminal catalog annually released by SEARS in “late August” prior to the holiday shopping season. The restaurant will also channel the wonderment of the department store’s heyday through its whimsical menu. It is the brainchild of 2021 Top Chef cast member and 2020 James Beard Semifinalist Chef Dawn Burrell, who will explore the soul of Afro-Asian flavors through a selection of innovative lunch, dinner, and brunch offerings.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity to introduce this original concept in such a historic space, which has been given new life as Houston’s heart of innovation. Our goal with Late August is to honor the origins of the property, while also tapping into its future,” says Williams. “Under Chef Dawn’s leadership, I’m confident that the food will not only match the ethos of its surroundings, but also bring a fresh take to Houston’s immensely talented culinary scene. It’s been a pleasure to see Chef Dawn breathe life into this development with her flavors of global comfort.”

Local owner and operator Jarrod Rector will launch the first brick-and-mortar outpost of his wildly-popular STUFF’d Wings – an award-winning Third Ward-area food truck – in the immediate vicinity of The Ion. STUFF’d at The Ion will boast a chef-driven menu combined with a fast-casual atmosphere. Rector – who developed the concept after spending over a decade as an electrical designer in the oil and gas industry – along with his wife and co-owner, Prisoria, have built a rabid following via the STUFF’d Wings food truck’s delectable bone-in chicken wings, which are fused with a variety of side cuisines – including chicken boudain, mac-n-cheese, pork boudain, beef boudain, dirty rice, and seafood boudain. The Ion-adjacent location of STUFF’d will additionally debut smoked STUFF’d wings, STUFF’d milkshakes, loaded fries, and additional new menu items not found at the food truck. Its 2,400-square-foot blueprint includes an outdoor patio and will use recycled and sustainable materials in its construction.

Fast-growing local bakery and bistro Common Bond will add a new on-the-go offering to its portfolio when it launches Common Bond On-the-Go Ion, which represents Common Bond’s fourth on-the-go-style concept across Greater Houston. Common Bond’s iconic baked goods display bar will be a familiar feature in The Ion, and Common Bond On-the-Go Ion will offer both indoor and outdoor seating.

Additionally, the menu will showcase Common Bond’s signature cookies, pastries, and croissants – as well as a grab n’ go-style menu of breakfast, cold sandwiches, and salads. “We look forward to bonding over good food, extraordinary pastries, and great coffee with Houston’s entrepreneurial community — as well as all Houstonians who visit and utilize The Ion’s resources — within its state-of-the-art collaborative environment,” emphasized Common Bond CEO George Joseph.

Late August, STUFF’d Wings, and Common Bond will set the stage for future retail announcements in the coming months that will further enhance the burgeoning Ion and District sector. Burdette Huffman of The Blue Ox Group represented Rice Management Company in the leasing transactions.

About the Ion

Rice Management Company and The Ion Announce Microsoft as a Tenant

Posted on December 17, 2020May 8, 2023 by Taylor Odum

HOUSTON – DECEMBER 17, 2020 – Rice Management Company (RMC) and The Ion, Houston’s innovation hub, today announced global technology leader Microsoft as a new tenant of the building. RMC is leasing space on The Ion’s fifth floor to Microsoft.

“Over the last several years, Microsoft has made it clear it is committed to Houston,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “With the work Microsoft is already doing with the City and The Ion to support entrepreneurs, workforce development and energy transition, it is only fitting its new home should be in our City’s hub for innovation. This news is an exciting next step in our partnership with Microsoft as we continue to grow Houston’s innovation ecosystem and become a leader in the global energy transition.”

“Having Microsoft as a major tenant is a huge step forward in realizing the vision for The Ion as a dynamic hub bringing together key elements of innovation in Houston,” Rice President David Leebron said. “We are very grateful to Microsoft and Mayor Turner for advancing this vision.”

In addition to leasing space for its own use within the building, Microsoft is an established partner of The Ion and a founding sponsor of its Smart and Resilient Cities Accelerator. In August, Microsoft announced it will invest in workforce development as part of an “accelerate” initiative and support Houston’s innovation district at The Ion. The Ion’s programs double down on smart and resilient city innovation and support social entrepreneurship and new-skilling to bridge the digital divide. Tenants and program partners advance The Ion’s mission to build an inclusive and dynamic workforce with local talent.

“As we look to the official opening of The Ion next year, we’re thrilled to welcome Microsoft to our community,” said Ryan LeVasseur, Managing Director of Direct Real Estate, Rice Management Company. “We’re working to ensure The Ion and the surrounding district become the premier destination for businesses and innovators to grow and collaborate. Microsoft will help us realize this vision with its longterm commitment as a tenant and programming partner.”

“The Ion is fast becoming a hub for Houston’s startup community and driving forward innovation in energy transition technologies,” said Ravi Krishnaswamy, Corporate Vice President, Azure Global Industry, Microsoft. “My team and I are excited to get to work there, supporting Microsoft’s vision of powering a sustainable future and accelerating energy transition with the expertise of partners, customers and industry.”

In addition to advancing its own business initiatives in its leased space, Microsoft will play a role in professional and workforce development through support of The Ion’s various community and start-up initiatives. In The Ion, Microsoft will host advancement opportunities such as a monthly executive forum and virtual symposiums, and support future accelerators for advanced manufacturing, digital skilling and smart and resilient city innovation.

“The Ion and Microsoft will provide the necessary tools and knowledge needed to become more resilient, strengthen our workforce and create new innovations to accelerate the energy transition,” said Jan E. Odegard, Interim Executive Director, The Ion. “We were delighted this summer when we announced Microsoft’s sponsorship of The Ion programming and are now even more ecstatic to welcome a division of Microsoft to its new home. My team and I look forward to showcasing our great programs that are enabled by corporate sponsors like Microsoft to the entrepreneurs, academics, corporations and community in Houston and around the world.”

About the Ion

About Rice Management Company (RMC) is responsible for the stewardship of Rice University’s endowment. The endowment plays a vital role for Rice. The distributions generated provide approximately 40% of the University’s operating revenues, which makes it the single largest revenue source to the operating budget. The RMC team brings decades of investment management expertise across diversified industries and financial specialties. Through disciplined research and due diligence, we assess and pursue investment strategies that are aligned with the long-term risk/reward profile of the endowment. For more information, please visit investments.rice.edu.

For more information, please visit https://ionhouston.com/ or https://investments.rice.edu/. Press Contact: Taylor Trovillion, theion@finnpartners.com.

The Ion Welcomes Chevron as First Tenant and Program Partner

Posted on August 19, 2020May 8, 2023 by Taylor Odum

Rice Management Company and The Ion today announced global energy leader Chevron is the first tenant to sign a lease and the first program partner of The Ion’s new space at 4201 Main Street. Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8763551-the-ion-houston-welcomes-chevron/ The Ion’s LEED-certified building in midtown Houston is set to open in the Spring of 2021 with Chevron leasing space for collaboration among Chevron teams, startup companies, and community organizations contributing to Houston’s innovation ecosystem. Chevron’s space will be led by the Chevron Technology Ventures group and will be available for all Chevron employees for networking, professional development, and opportunities to collaborate with other innovation ecosystem players. The organization also plans to leverage The Ion community in its efforts to access and support local innovation.

“Our first tenant at The Ion is one of the most recognizable brands in the world,” said Ryan LeVasseur, Managing Director of Real Estate, Rice Management Company. “We’re thrilled to welcome Chevron into the Innovation District. They’ll be the first of many companies, local startups, and business owners who make a home at and around The Ion as we continue to develop this groundbreaking, mixed-use space.”

Barbara Burger, President of Chevron Technology Ventures, said, “We are thrilled to support The Ion as a key component of Houston’s growing innovation ecosystem. We have a long history in Houston with its role as the global energy capital. We believe The Ion will help to ensure that Houston retains that distinction and plays a leading role in the energy transition through innovation.”

As a founding program partner of The Ion, Chevron has long supported Houston’s innovation community. Since 2017, Chevron employees have mentored startups and entrepreneurs at The Ion’s current space, served as judges for The Ion’s innovation showcases, and sponsored programming for K-12 students.

“By becoming our first tenant and a founding program partner, Chevron has shown it is committed to ensuring The Ion is Houston’s premier destination for innovators, entrepreneurs, and academics to collaborate on workforce development, build tech-enabled businesses, and support the community,” said Jan E. Odegard, The Ion’s Interim Executive Director. “We’re grateful to welcome such an esteemed organization to our space with which we share the same mission and values.”

Chevron and all future tenants of The Ion will have access to the building’s cutting-edge amenities and resources, including its prototyping and immersive reality labs, 70,000 square feet of public and shared spaces for event programming, business incubation and acceleration, and curated connections. The Ion’s leasing operations are led by Drew Morris at Savills.

About the Ion

For Leasing: Drew Morris, DMorris@savills.us Press Contact: theion@finnpartners.com, 312-329-3983