By Jim Carchidi
December 22, 2025
The process of collecting items from Pulse nightclub began on the morning of Monday, Dec. 22, marking the latest step toward a permanent memorial to the victims of the 2016 mass shooting.
Collecting artifacts
Sections of the decorative wall surrounding Pulse nightclub were opened to provide access for the removal of crated items. Photos by Jim Carchidi
About 19 items were previously packed in archival materials and will be stored in an environmentally-controlled warehouse while the new memorial is constructed.
Crews from Cafe Construction & Development spent about two hours removing 19 pieces of interior decor and non-structural architectural items that had previously been crated. The list includes chandeliers, signs, the bar top, the cash register, and sections of decorated walls. The Pulse sign and other architectural items will be removed sometime before the site is cleared to make way for the new memorial.
Items from the interim memorial outside Pulse nightclub will be collected before the site is cleared in the spring.
"The purpose is that these items can be potentially included in the permanent Pulse memorial," said City of Orlando Facilities Division Manager Navid Erfan during a media address. Items from the interim memorial outside the nightclub will be collected and catalogued for historical preservation.
Acquiring the property
The effort began about five months after the tragic events of June 12, 2016, when a gunman entered the popular dance club killing 49 people and injuring 53. A November 2016 offer from the City of Orlando to purchase the venue for $2.25 million and build a memorial was rejected by the owners, who formed the onePULSE Foundation to privately raise funds and manage the project. Years of delays, fundraising shortfalls, and failures to properly engage survivors and victims’ families led to the foundation dissolving in 2023 and the city acquiring the property for $2 million.
Guiding a new vision
Renderings of the approved Pulse memorial show a walking path, an interior reflection space, and a nighttime view of 49 lighted columns representing the victims of the 2016 shooting. Images courtesy of Pulse Orlando
The process of creating a permanent memorial is now driven by the Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee. The group was formed in 2024 and is made up of 18 members possessing a direct relationship to the tragedy or professional experience relevant to the task of managing the design process. In September 2025, Orlando City Council approved a design-build agreement with Gomez Construction Company, selected during a request for project proposals. About $12.8 million in construction funding has been secured with $5 million coming from Orange County government, $7.5 million from the City of Orlando general fund, and $394,321 from a grant agreement with the State of Florida.
The approved memorial design features quiet areas, gathering spaces, and a walkway with 49 rainbow columns honoring the victims. The sign will be positioned outside the memorial with collected artifacts and items donated by victims' families and survivors exhibited on a tribute wall and in other spaces.
Next steps
The process of clearing the property will start between March and April. Construction of the permanent memorial is expected to begin in the fall with completion slated for mid 2027. Updates will be posted on the Pulse Orlando website.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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