West University Place wants to beautify the way people are greeted when entering the city from the commercial district.

The gist: The city is looking to improve two brick entry walls on Sunset Boulevard and Kirby Drive. However, the walls line four properties, one of which belongs to Bank of Texas.

To gain access, West U administrative assistant Dominick Nieswiadomy, who presented the agenda item, recommended that the city sign permanent access easements with the property owners. The contracts would allow the city permanent access to the walls from the owners’ properties to maintain them.

The walls used to have lights on the pillars, and the city is considering cleaning the walls, adding new solar lights, and creating city signage for the walls to welcome people into the city.

One more thing: Council unanimously agreed to the contracts for easement access, and all three homeowners have also agreed. Once the bank signs its contract, officials said they can meet again to discuss design specifications.

Rice University officials broke ground Nov. 4 on the Arc, a nearly 200,000-square-foot research and office building in the Ion District.

The overview: The seven-floor building will feature:

• Flexible lab and office space supporting artificial intelligence, data science, robotics, quantum science and engineering

• The AI Foundry, a new Rice research and innovation hub occupying close to 80,000 square feet of the building

• Conference spaces, an amenity lounge, fitness center, outdoor plaza, underground parking and on-site retail and dining

The Arc will share a plaza with the Ion building in Midtown's technology park, which was established as a joint initiative between Rice University and the city of Houston.

The timeline: Developed by Rice Real Estate Co. for approximately $75 million, construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2028.

Pre-leasing is currently open for interested companies and organizations.

Cat ownership is up, and leaders in veterinary care want to ensure that Houston-area veterinarians can receive the continued training necessary to give the best care they can.

The Houston Zoo is hosting Roo at the Zoo, a continuing education and networking event designed to give Houston-area veterinary professionals practical feline-care training in a unique setting.

What is it: Roo is a flexible staffing and careers platform for vets, techs and animal hospitals. It also connects professionals with hiring opportunities and free continuing education.

Charlotte Weir, Roo's VP of Partnerships, said this event is especially important because there has been an increase in cat ownership over the past several years, but treating cats can present challenges compared to other pets, like dogs.

Why now: Cat ownership has increased over recent years, Weir said, especially among young people and males. The American Pet Products Association reports that 43% of cat owners are men, and the number of Gen Z cat dads has increased by 27% year over year.

Several events commemorating Veterans Day are taking place in the Greater Houston area.

Field of Honor: The Exchange Club of Sugar Land is paying tribute to veterans, first responders and countless other heroes by flying 2,026 flags on a one-acre field. 

• Nov. 7-13; different ceremonies taking place on Nov. 9-11

• 13850 University Blvd., Sugar Land

Houston Salutes American Heroes Veterans Day Celebration: The traditional Veterans Day ceremony will take place in Downtown Houston with acknowledgements and keynote speaker Chase Untermeyer.

• Nov. 11, 10 a.m. (ceremony); 11:30 a.m. (parade start)

• 900 Bagby St., Houston

Thankful for Our Heroes Singo Bingo: Los Jarritos Mexican Grill is hosting a special bingo competition filled with music, singing and the chance to honor veterans for everything they do to keep America safe.

• Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m.

• 20669 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Humble