Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1405910
extends the entire height of the building, culminating at the bottom with de rigueur, large-scale forum stairs, where tenants and visitors can relax or attend presentations. This airy central atrium visibly unifies the building into a kind of massive, collaborative workspace. Asked whether it would have been less costly to tear down the Sears building, Ryan LeVasseur, managing director of direct real estate at Rice Management Company, says, "Perhaps. But you can't easily replicate those ceiling heights or big floor plates. You can't replicate that beautiful concrete structure. This was an opportunity to build something that is a 'one-of-one' in this marketplace." LeVasseur might have added that the notion of reuse is inherent to The Ion's mission, particularly in clean energy, which is one of four entrepreneurial accelerators currently operating there (the others are minority founders; aerospace; and smart, resilient cities). In the nearby former Fiesta grocery store, which Rice University also owns, Boston-based Greentown Labs, a "climatetech" startup incubator, has taken an eight- year lease, a clear indicator that Rice intends to help Houston thrive. The Ion's gardens also reflect that intention. Two Rice University's new Innovation District featuring The Ion Enoc Perez Lovie Olivia Bill Arning Exhibitions Sept 17 – Oct 24 Hours Thur–Sun, 12–6pm 604 W. Alabama St, Houston, TX Parking available billarningexhibitions.com Photo: Frederick Egan Castleberry Photo: Preetika Rajgariah The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art's The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art's 40 40 th th anniversary gala anniversary gala O c t o b e r 2 3 , 2 0 2 1 O c t o b e r 2 3 , 2 0 2 1 7pm - Midnight 7pm - Midnight AT The Orange Show'S OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD open-air Headquarters AT The Orange Show'S OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD open-air Headquarters t h e b i g t h e b i g o r a n g e s h o w g a l a . c o m o r a n g e s h o w g a l a . c o m explosive entertainment explosive entertainment morris day and the time morris day and the time cosmic Culinary Delights cosmic Culinary Delights tony's tony's Gala Co-pilots Gala Co-pilots Melissa & Paul Melissa & Paul Dobrowski Dobrowski Julia & Will Julia & Will ROBINSON ROBINSON auction Co-pilots auction Co-pilots beth beth abramson-meltzer abramson-meltzer lane lane schultz schultz abSolutely DYNAMITE abSolutely DYNAMITE attire required attire required