"Pulse Memorial Transforms A Site of Tragedy Into Light"

We are honored to be featured in a recent Forbes article by R. Daniel Foster highlighting the vision and design of the future Pulse Memorial in Orlando.

As we mark 10 years since the tragedy at Pulse nightclub, we continue to remember the 49 Angels whose lives were taken, honor the survivors and families forever impacted, and stand with Orlando’s LGBTQIA+ community in love, remembrance, and unity.

The future Pulse Memorial is envisioned as an inclusive, life-affirming space dedicated to healing, reflection, and remembrance. Through thoughtful architecture, landscape, light, and storytelling, the memorial seeks to honor not only what was lost, but also the spirit of love and community that Pulse represented.

As Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer shared in the article, “I want visitors to feel like we have truly honored the 49 people that passed away. I hope the memorial reflects our community response of love, compassion and unity.”

That vision has guided every step of the design process.

The article also highlights the powerful phrase, “For all those who just wanted to dance,” written by R. Daniel Foster in the immediate aftermath of the 2016 tragedy. Paired with Two Men Dancing by Robert Mapplethorpe, the words became a globally shared touchstone of collective grief and remembrance. A granite water wall, etched with the names honoring the 49 lives lost, borders the reflecting pool. Above the names, a central rainbow heart with a pulse line is pin-mounted. Flanking that logo—one side written in Spanish and the other, English—are the words, “For all those who just wanted to dance.”

As our Senior Associate and Senior Project Manager, Dan-Michael Trbovich, explains: “The tragedy took more than 49 lives—it took music, dance and a celebration of life from the community.”

Rather than creating a memorial defined by darkness, the design aims to celebrate life, memory, and resilience.

“Memorial designs can often be stark and dark, and that was not the tone that the city was wanting, nor the family members—they wanted it to be a celebration of life,” Dan shared.

Reflecting on Foster’s words and their impact on the memorial’s design, Dan added, “That quote set the tone for the entire memorial. The words strike an incredibly decent tone, and so they became the overarching narrative for the entire design process.”

Our President, Jorge A. Borrelli reflected on the phrase that helped shape the memorial’s narrative: “It’s a cry for those who came to dance and enjoy their lives with one another.”

It is a profound privilege to help design a space that will serve as a lasting tribute to the lives remembered and to the resilience of the Orlando community.

Read the full Forbes article here: Pulse Memorial Transforms A Site of Tragedy Into Light