Pulse nightclub demolition begins nearly a decade on from mass shooting

The site of the former Orlando LGBTQIA+ venue will be transformed into a memorial for the 49 people murdered in the 2016 shooting

Demolition work has started on Orlando's Pulse nightclub, nearly a decade on from the mass shooting that killed 49 people at the venue.

Crews were seen taking down the former LGBTQIA+ venue's sign yesterday (March 18), marking the beginning of a project to clear the site for a permanent $12 million memorial for the shooting's victims which, according to The Guardian, is scheduled to be completed in autumn 2027.

Pulse has lain empty since the deadly shooting on June 12, 2016, in which a lone gunman entered the queer venue and opened fire on patrons attending a Latin night at the venue, killing 49 and injuring a further 58.

The perpetrator swore allegiance to ISIS before he was killed by police officers following a three-hour stand-off. It was one of the deadliest mass shootings by a single shooter, and the deadliest incident of violence against LGBTQIA+ people in US history.

Ahead of demolition crews' arrival on the site, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday (March 17) that this was a "sacred site to those who loved the 49 and anybody else that had visited Pulse."

There have been various proposals submitted for the permanent memorial, including controversial plans for a "museum and gift shop" from OnePulse Foundation, which was shelved in 2023 following concerns over potential for the site to become "a tourist attraction".

While finalised plans for the memorial will be revealed in May, the City of Orlando shared renderings of the planned 3,500 sq ft memorial from developer Gomez Construction and Borrelli and Partners earlier this year, who will now be tasked with its construction.

According to NY1, the memorial is set to include "an angel ellipse, reflecting pool, private gathering area and survivors wall, among other features".

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on X

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