Plans have been finalized for a memorial to be built in honour of the victims of the tragic 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. The Pulse Advisory Committee in Orlando has officially approved the design for the memorial, which will be constructed on the site of the nightclub, marking a decade since the horrific attack took place.
The mass shooting, which targeted the LGBTQ community, resulted in the loss of 49 lives and left 68 others injured. Following a three-hour standoff, the perpetrator was shot dead by police officers. Subsequently, plans for a memorial to remember the victims were given the green light in 2023 after unanimous approval from Orlando city commissioners to purchase the property for $2 million.
After seven months of meetings and feedback sessions, the Orlando committee has finalized the plans for the long-awaited memorial, which is estimated to cost $7.5 million upon completion. The memorial site will feature a visitor center with exhibition space, a reflection pool where the dancefloor once stood, a tribute wall with trees planted in memory of each victim, and a garden with an elliptical walkway showcasing 49 colourful glass panels representing each individual. Additionally, a private space will be available for loved ones to leave flowers and personal mementos.
The next steps involve presenting the plans to the Orlando City Commission on February 24 for further discussion and selecting designers and builders to oversee the project. The memorial is scheduled to open to the public in the autumn of the following year. Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan emphasized the importance of involving the families of the victims and survivors in the planning process and expressed relief that the building will be demolished to make way for a respectful place of remembrance
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