Inside the Ion With CCIM Houston

Touring the Ion Building with CCIM Houston reminded me why adaptive reuse done right is so powerful. This 1930s gem is now the heart of a 16-acre innovation district — 1,400+ events annually, startups to global companies, all under one roof.

Proud that our team had a hand in this project through Second Draught and Late August, and excited to watch the district continue to grow.

A 1930s structure reimagined

Rather than demolishing the building, the development team leveraged its historic bones to create an environment that feels both authentic and forward-looking. The strong original structure made preservation not just possible, but purposeful.

A district, not just a building

The Ion is the centerpiece of a 16-acre innovation district with a 10–20 year growth horizon. The upcoming ARC building — 196,400 sq ft of office and R&D space — is the next chapter in that vision.

Community-driven by design

The atrium event space hosts over 1,400 events a year, intentionally designed to spark connection and collaboration, while also driving office leasing and retail activation throughout the building.

A true mixed-use ecosystem

From early-stage startups to global enterprises, from restaurants to open gathering spaces, the Ion brings together a genuinely diverse mix of uses under one roof.

A sincere thank you to Scott Irby and Bailey Gay from Rice Real Estate Company for sharing their time and insight. It was inspiring to hear about what is ahead for the Ion District. And it is always a great feeling to see a former Rice MBA classmate, Michael Cordua, bring a new concept to life with The Lymbar right there in the building.

The Ion is a strong reminder that the best real estate does more than house businesses, it helps build communities.