ORLANDO, Fla. – After months of gathering information and feedback, the city of Orlando is gearing up to send the Pulse memorial project out for bid on March 3.
During a workshop Monday morning, the Orlando City Council learned more about the vision for the Pulse memorial from the Pulse Advisory Committee.
Design assistants involved in the renderings and concepts shared their thoughts on the design ideas for the long-awaited site.
“We do think it’s important that you open it up, it be inviting, you come into the space, and you feel comfortable in that space,” said Partner and Chief Design Officer with Baker Barrios Architects, Wayne Dunkleberger.
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Both Dunkleberger and Jay Hood from Catalyst Design Group went over the vision for each section of the new memorial site.
Some proposed areas include the survivors’ pavilion, the memorial area itself and a private gathering space for the victims’ family members to honor and remember their loved ones.
Commissioner Sheehan expressed her appreciation for the committee’s respectful and caring approach to moving the project forward.
“I got to know 38 of 49 families who lost someone, and it was a very difficult time,” Sheehan said. “So, thank you for the committee to taking it to the next level because in the beginning, Mayor Dyer and I had to be the voice for the voiceless. And then you have to found your voice and brought it forward. So, thank you to every one of you who served.”
Some design elements are still undecided, such as whether to include the breach wall or where to place the names of the 49 victims, there is potential for repurposing pieces from the current memorial, like seating, into the new one.
“I like the reusing of the seating elements because those were all donated,” Sheehan said. “A lot of the things that what people don’t realize that interim memorial was not something One Pulse Foundation paid for. That was the goodness of the community that came forward and donated,” Sheehan added.
Members of the Orlando City Council also said they appreciate the multicultural aspects of the design, including flags representing the countries of origin of some victims.
“Flags of origin are very, very important to people,” Sheehan said. “And I think that’s a very culturally competent way to do that.”
The project is expected to break ground in 2026, with completion anticipated in the second half of 2027.
“I think it’s a realistic timeline, we’re extending the RFP period so that people can be very thoughtful about the bidding process to be part of this but I’m comfortable with the construction timeline to be completed by Summer or Fall of ‘27,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said.
Responses for the request for proposal will be due to the city on May 29, 2025. Rankings and a contract are expected to go to before the city council by summer 2026.