Updated Pulse Memorial renderings show 30% design milestone and Orlando’s schedule for demolition and construction

New visuals mark the first major design checkpoint for Orlando’s permanent Pulse Memorial

Updated renderings of the permanent Pulse Memorial were released as the project reached a 30% design benchmark, a milestone that signals the transition from the advisory committee’s concept into detailed design work and site preparation. The public update was scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, March 5, 2026, with in-person and virtual access.

The memorial is being developed at the site of the former Pulse nightclub, where 49 people were killed on June 12, 2016. June 12, 2026 will mark 10 years since the attack.

What the memorial plan includes

The memorial concept approved in early 2025 centers on preserving the site’s meaning while creating a structured public space for remembrance, reflection and visitor support. Key elements described in city materials and project summaries include:

• A memorial and reflection space shaped by the footprint of the original building.
• An Angel Ellipse with an accessible elliptical walkway and 49 canopy feature columns honoring the victims; the concept includes rainbow-colored glass panels.
• A reflection pool positioned where the dance floor was, intended as a focal point for quiet remembrance.
• A Survivor’s Commons featuring a survivor tribute wall and seating near a designated survivor’s tree.
• A private gathering space that includes an “Angel Personal Effects Capsule” area for families’ mementos.
• A healing and prism garden intended to represent hope and recovery.
• A visitor pavilion designed to provide public accommodations, indoor gathering space and limited exhibition space.

Timeline: clearing the site, then building the memorial

With the project entering the design-build phase, the schedule now extends through late 2027. Project documentation indicates the detailed design process is expected to be finalized in August 2026, followed by construction work with a targeted completion by the end of 2027.

Site activity has also moved from planning into visible preparation. Demolition and removal steps outlined publicly include:

• March 10, 2026: the Pulse sign scheduled for removal and secure storage.
• March 18, 2026: demolition scheduled to begin.
• Summer 2026: ongoing site clearing.
• Fall 2026: construction planned to begin after clearing is complete.
• Fall to late 2027: completion expectations described publicly range from fall 2027 to December 2027.

Artifacts and preservation decisions

In parallel with demolition planning, the city has described a process for recovering and storing artifacts from the Pulse site, including interior items and the exterior Pulse sign. Materials are expected to be stored in an environmentally controlled facility for future placement and historical curation as the permanent memorial takes shape.

The 30% design update reflects a shift from a finalized concept into construction-ready planning, while documenting what will be preserved, what will be removed, and how the site will be reconfigured into a permanent public memorial.