ORLANDO, Fla. — Since the 2016 Pulse tragedy, creating a special place in Orlando to memorialize the 49 people killed in the attack has been difficult.

What You Need To Know

  • Orlando city leaders shared design proposals for the permanent Pulse memorial at a workshop Monday, with many of the victims’ families on hand
  • Earlier this month, an advisory committee finalized the plans for the memorial to honor the 49 people who died at the nightclub in 2016
  • The 18 committee members, who all  have direct ties to the Pulse tragedy, worked together with leaders to finalize the renderings
  • If all goes as planned, city officials say construction could begin in the summer of 2026

But through teamwork with the city of Orlando, along with the direct assistance of family members of Pulse victims, designs of the new Pulse memorial appear to have reached their final stage.

Earlier this month, an advisory committee finalized the plans for the memorial to honor the 49 people who died at the nightclub in 2016.

“I’m so pleased with the result of where we’re at," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who was heading up the workshop. "I’m pleased we’re able to get this completed prior to me no longer being mayor."

Presenting both photos and video, city leaders showed off the completed renderings at the City Hall workshop, where many family member victims were on hand.

Pulse committee member Perry Snider, who lost many friends during the shooting, said everyone worked together well in coming up with the designs.

“When they came to us with three different designs and then we broke that down from three to one," Snider said. "It was amazing, because I don’t think that we all envisioned what now we see — but we all unanimously came together that this was the right thing to move forward with the city."

Snider worked at Pulse for a short time as a drink server and said there was a lot of give and take when it came to what was needed by everyone to be included in the memorial.

“There were some points where I think we knew we weren’t going to make everyone happy," Snider said. "And I think everyone’s healing process is different."

Snider lost two very close friends in the pulse massacre and knew many others trapped inside the nightclub the night of the 2016 incident.

The goal is to have a permanent memorial built by June 2027, and if all goes as planned, city officials say construction will begin in the summer of 2026.

Leaders announced that the total budget of the memorial is estimated at $12 million, with money coming from both the city and additional funds likely to come from the state.