Pulse Memorial and Museum

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National Pulse Memorial and Museum
National Pulse Memorial Wall
LocationOrlando, Florida
TypeMemorial and museum
Dedicated toVictims of the Orlando nightclub shooting at Pulse in 2016

The National Pulse Memorial and Museum was a planned memorial and museum commemorating victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting at Pulse in 2016, originally planned to open in 2022.[1] In late October 2023, plans for the Memorial and Museum were permanently suspended.[2]

In 2021, the site was designated by Congress as a national memorial.[3]

Temporary memorial efforts[edit]

In an effort to honor the 49 victims and to memorialize the location surrounding the Pulse Nightclub building, the City of Orlando dedicated $4,518 to erect a barrier fence to fulfill this purpose. Following this, the City discussed purchasing the Nightclub for $2.25 million, but the vote was postponed.[4]

In the end, Pulse Nightclub owner, Barbara Poma, cited personal and emotional connection to the site as the main reasons as to why she chose not to sell the property.[5] Since this time, Poma and others have been raising funds for a memorial, museum, and scholarships through her nonprofit, the onePULSE Foundation.[6]

Design and construction[edit]

The onePULSE Foundation released a request for proposals in March 2019, with proposals being due by January 31, 2020. Six finalists were selected from the total 68 submissions received, with the final design being chosen from Coldefy & Associes with RDAI.[7][8] The selection process was completed by a blue-ribbon jury made up of representatives from onePulse, the Orlando community, architect professionals, and others. The decision was made as a collective group, with consideration in mind to the over 2,300 comments that were submitted from the victims' families, survivors, and the community with recommendations for memorial concepts.[9]

Design Team Result Ref.
Coldefy & Associés with RDAI, HHCP Architects, Xavier Veilhan, dUCKS scéno, Agence TER, and Prof. Laila Farah Winner [10]
Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Rene Gonzalez Architects with Raymond Jungles, Teresita Fernández, and Oliver Beer Finalist [11]
heneghan peng architects, Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Sven Anderson, Pentagram, and Bartenbach LichtLabor Finalist [12]
MASS Design Group, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Ralph Applebaum Associates, Sasaki, Sanford Biggers, Richard Blanco, and Porsha Olayiwola Finalist [13]
MVRDV, McKenzie Architects, Grant Associates, GSM Project, and Studio Drift Finalist [14]
Studio Libeskind with Baker Barrios Architects, Claude Cormier + Associés, Thinc, and Jenny Holzer Finalist [15]

The current design includes several pieces that come together to form a community presence and dedicated reflective, interactive, and connective spaces. The National Pulse Memorial has the focus of serving as a quiet and peaceful garden setting, and is set to include different symbolic features such as 49 trees, 49 color lines, and a reflecting pool surrounding the Pulse building, to honor the 49 victims lost in the events of the Pulse shooting. A separate museum will be located at 438 West Kaley Street, Orlando, FL 32806, and will be erected in a shape representing a growing flower. The museum will serve as an interactive center to learn, gather, and host community programming. In total, the project is set to cost $45 million to complete.[16] Entrance to the memorial will be free year-round, but the museum will have an admission charge.[17] Architectural renderings and videos have been made available to the public to view and comment on the onePULSE foundation's website.[7]

The plans have received some criticism from survivors and families of victims for being too large and expensive,[18] as well as due to unpermitted renovations and code violations documented at the nightclub at the time of the shooting.[19]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Orlando Unveils Designs For Pulse Memorial, Museum Honoring The 49 Victims". HuffPost. October 31, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  2. ^ Fox, Greg; Imperato, Michelle (October 27, 2023). "onePULSE Foundation not moving forward with Pulse museum project". WESH 2. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  3. ^ Levenson, Michael (June 16, 2021). "Congress Backs National Memorial Designation for Former Pulse Nightclub Site". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "Orlando to buy Pulse nightclub for $2.25M, turn it into memorial". WFTV. November 8, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  5. ^ Lotan, Jeff Weiner, Gal Tziperman. "Pulse nightclub owner says she won't sell to city". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 19, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "onePULSE Foundation | The Only Official 501(c)(3) incorporated by the owners of Pulse Nightclub". Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "National Pulse Memorial & Museum Design and Construction". March 11, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "Coldefy & Associés and RDAI to Design the National Pulse Memorial and Museum". www.architectmagazine.com. October 31, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  9. ^ "Winning Design Team for the National Pulse Memorial & Museum Announced | onePULSE Foundation". October 30, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "Coldefy & Associés with RDAI, HHCP Architects, Xavier Veilhan, dUCKS scéno, Agence TER, Prof. Laila Farah| onePULSE Foundation". September 11, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  11. ^ "Diller, Scofidio + Renfro and Rene Gonzalez Architects with Raymond Jungles, Teresita Fernández, and Oliver Beer| onePULSE Foundation". September 11, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "heneghan peng architects, Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Sven Anderson, Pentagram, and Bartenbach LichtLabor| onePULSE Foundation". September 11, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "MASS Design Group, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Ralph Applebaum Associates, Sasaki, Sanford Biggers, Richard Blanco, Porsha Olayiwola| onePULSE Foundation". September 11, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  14. ^ "MVRDV, McKenzie Architects, Grant Associates, GSM Project and Studio Drift| onePULSE Foundation". September 11, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  15. ^ "Studio Libeskind with Baker Barrios Architects, Claude Cormier + Associés, Thinc, and Jenny Holzer| onePULSE Foundation". September 11, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  16. ^ Santich, Kate (October 30, 2019). "Pulse memorial and museum design announced". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  17. ^ "Coldefy & Associés with RDAI, HHCP Architects, Xavier Veilhan, dUCKS scéno, Agence TER, Prof. Laila Farah | onePULSE Foundation". September 11, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  18. ^ Bowley, Graham (December 16, 2019). "At Pulse Shooting Site, a Plan to Remember Renews Pain for Some". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  19. ^ "5 years since Pulse: Orlando's wounds still ache". projects.tampabay.com. Retrieved May 29, 2022.