ORLANDO, Fla. — Thursday, the Pulse Memorial advisory committee took a pivotal step towards honoring the legacy of the 49 lives lost and the resilience of survivors in the wake of the Pulse nightclub tragedy.
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Designers, members of the community leaders, survivors, and families of the victims met at City Hall to review and refine proposals for a commemorative piece that will stand as a beacon of love, unity, and hope.
“For those who think this is closure, that this ends grief and ends the pain it doesn’t work that way. What it does do however is kind of put a dot at the end of the sentence that’s been open for a very long time,” said Nancy Rosado, Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee.
The meeting on Thursday was the last chance for the committee to agree on what should stay or go.
The group engaged in discussions to ensure that every detail—color, shape, and symbol—represented the community’s values and paid tribute to the lives impacted based on three designs shown in previous meetings.
Architectural renderings, artistic sculptures, and innovative landscape designs were presented, each reflecting themes of inclusivity, remembrance, healing, and color.
Although the building itself is coming down, the meeting discussed parts of the dance floor being part of a water feature.
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“What is happening is a fitting tribute to people who went out one night to have a nice time and finally, finally being memorialized the way they should,” said Rosado.
The city said the design and construction budget is 7.5 million. However, there is now a projected amount for the entire project.
Orlando City Mayor Buddy Dyer said he wants to see the project finished by the end of his term.
The project, infused with purpose and deep meaning, is poised to become a place where visitors worldwide can honor the past, find solace, and recommit to building a future rooted in compassion and equality.
The last meeting will showcase the final rendering before being presented to the council for approval will be on February 4th at 4 pm inside the City Hall Fairview meeting room.
The city wants your voice to be heard in the design set to be reviewed in February.
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