HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- In the heart of Montrose, steps from Buffalo Bayou, rises a uniquely Houston gathering place and an iconic institution in the making: The Ismaili Center.

"Houston is one of the most diverse cities, right? The Ismaili Center truly celebrates that idea of diversity. It brings people from all walks of life," Farah Lalani said.

Lalani is among the many Ismaili volunteers who played a role in helping make a decades-long dream into a reality.