pretty new post oak

Posh Post Oak destination announces major renovations and makeover

Major changes are coming to Post Oak Plaza.

Rendering courtesy of Levcor

A major Houston destination is set to reveal a major makeover. Post Oak Plaza and its collection of shops, restaurants, and services will undergo a transformative refresh, developer and owner Levcor announced. Work is planned to unfold in multiple phases through 2022.

Just what can shoppers and visitors expect at the bustling intersection Post Oak Boulevard and San Felipe Road? Building and store facades will incorporate a mixture of wood, glass, stucco, and stone materials and feature new lighting elements to accentuate the architecture, press materials note.

Plans also include community gathering locations throughout the common areas, plus and an extensive landscaping plan boasting new trees, enhanced hardscape, and flower beds. Widened pathways promise connectivity, safety, and walkability as guests stroll the development.

Speaking of new additions: Dining options including Kenny & Ziggy’s, Maragume Udon, and il Bracco, an upscale eatery from Dallas serving classic Italian dishes, are headed to the center.

Shoppers and diners, fear not: All retailers, restaurants and services at Post Oak Plaza will remain open, including Bill Walker Clothier, Eye Elegance, FedEx, Home Source, Madison Lily, Pinto Ranch, Post Oak Nail Lounge, Sensia, Toys to Love, and UPS. Meanwhile, new leasing will be handled by Shop Companies, per a press release.

“Our team is working diligently to create an enhanced experience for guests visiting us in Uptown Houston as well as our retail and restaurant partners,” said Sasha Levine, vice president at Levcor, in a release. “Adding first-to-market restaurants and new retail shops to our center will further expand the options found in our city and caters to the evolving taste of our customers.”

flying high

Rice's Undergraduate business school receives a 'historic' donation

Photo via Rice University

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Following a “generous philanthropic gift” by Farid and Asha Virani, the undergraduate business program at Rice University will be named after the family. The building where the business program is housed, McNair Hall, will remain unchanged.

“We are profoundly grateful to Farid and Asha Virani for their extraordinary gift, which will transform our undergraduate business education,” Rice president Reginald DesRoches said in a statement. “Their success and commitment to excellence inspire our students, and their generosity will serve as a lasting testament to what can be accomplished through vision and determination.”

Rice University declined to disclose the size of donation that has led to the creation of the Virani Undergraduate School of Business on the request of the Virani family to maintain privacy, saying only that the amount is historic. The business school currently serves roughly 300 undergrads.

Dr. Asha Virani is a proud Rice alumna who graduated in 1989. Her husband, Farid, is the founder and CEO of Prime Communications, a wildly successful AT&T retailer that started with a single store in Baybrook Mall and has grown to be the largest such retailer in the nation. Their son Faraz graduated from Rice in 2021 after studying sports management.

“We are incredibly excited to support Rice Business, as we believe in the transformative power of education. This contribution will play a pivotal role in preparing the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs to tackle the challenges and seize the future opportunities — not just for our city, but for our state and our country,” Farid Virani said.

“Our vision is to foster a culture of curious and compassionate lifelong learners who will lead with a strong ethical orientation and intellectual humility,” Asha Virani said.

A new associate dean position will be created to oversee the new business school, and a national talent search is underway to fill the job. The gift will help expand the current business undergraduate offerings, including new major focuses in areas like healthcare and artificial intelligence.

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