The Ion, the Midtown innovation hub developed by Rice Management Co., opened a new space for prototyping and design on Jan. 31.
The Ion selected Houston-based nonprofit TXRX Labs to serve as the operator of The Ion Prototyping Lab, or IPL. The space gives entrepreneurs, startups and makers access to equipment, training and technical support.
The 6,500-square-foot lab includes equipment such as laser cutters, CNC mills and lathes, 3D printers, devices for electronics assembly and other small-batch manufacturing tools. Engineers and technicians will be on-site to provide support in the lab.
TXRX Labs also offers training and classes for workforce development and technical skills, like equipment operation, additive manufacturing and computer-aided design.
"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 TXRX Labs President Roland Von Kurnatowski. "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."
The prototyping space will be accessible through a membership. The IPL will also provide grant opportunities for participants who might need financial assistance. Members will also need to complete a safety and skills training course before using the lab.
The IPL was designed by San Francisco-based architecture firm Gensler, which has a large presence in Houston.
"With its close proximity to Houston’s central business district and the Texas Medical Center, The Ion is thrilled to provide the Houston tech community the Prototyping Lab operated by TXRX as an essential resource for businesses," said Jan Odegard, executive director of The Ion.
In addition to the new prototyping lab, The Ion has coworking space for startups, office space for larger companies and corporations, common space for events, on-site food and drink options and other offerings included in the 266,000-square-foot facility. The Ion, which was developed in a former Sears store at 4201 Main St., opened its doors last year.
TXRX Labs was one of the developers behind the East End Maker Hub, a more than 300,000-square-foot facility for entrepreneurs focused on heavy fabrication, manufacturing, 3D printing and other industrial sectors. The $38 million project, developed with Houston-based Urban Partnership Community Development Corp., received millions of dollars in grants and federal funding to convert a massive warehouse in Houston's East End into rentable suites for startups, nonprofits, corporate research arms and other organizations. TXRX Labs is the largest anchor tenant inside of the East End Maker Hub.
