The Pulse Nightclub Memorial: Designing for Remembrance and Healing

This program examines the City of Orlando’s approach to creating a memorial in response to a tragic event that targeted a community simply seeking joy and connection. Participants will learn how families of the victims were engaged in the process and given the opportunity to help preserve the memories of their loved ones. We will explore how these contributions informed thoughtful design decisions, artifact stewardship, and spatial planning to honor the 49 angels. The discussion will also explore how the design of the facility seeks to create a meaningful balance between honoring those who were lost, preserving their memories, and fostering an environment that supports reflection, remembrance, and healing. Through thoughtful use of space, materials, light, and transitions, the facility creates opportunities for both personal contemplation and shared remembrance. The ultimate goal is to provide families with dignified remembrance while creating a space that invites reflection and healing for visitors worldwide.

Speakers:

City of Orlando:
Heather Fagan, Chief of Staff, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
Kristi L. Fries, P.E., Assoc. DBIA, Project Manager, City of Orlando
Timothy L. Johnson I, AIA, NOMA, City Architect and Deputy Director of Economic Development

Borrelli + Partners Inc:
Jorge A. Borelli, ASLA, LEED AP BD+C, CPTED, President and Principal-in-Charge, Borrelli + Partners
Dan-Michael Trbovich, RA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate, Borrelli + Partners

Local Projects:
Nico Guillin, Creative Director, Local Projects
Amanda White, Director of Content Development and Strategy, Local Projects

About the Speakers:

Heather Fagan serves as Chief of Staff to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the Mayor’s strategic vision for the city. With more than 20 years in municipal government, she leads the Mayor’s Executive Office, overseeing high-priority, policy initiatives such as reducing homelessness, expanding Orlando's global entertainment footprint, and enhancing community engagement in city governance. Heather has been instrumental in major projects like the See Art Orlando, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and securing a Major League Soccer team. Following the 2016 Pulse Nightclub tragedy, she led the city's crisis communication response, earning national recognition. A passionate strategic communicator, she conducts crisis communication training nationwide through the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. An alumna of the University of Central Florida, she was inducted into the Nicholson School of Communication and Media Hall of Fame in 2025.

Timothy L. Johnson I (Tim) is a licensed architect in the State of Florida with more than 30 years of experience in design and construction. A graduate of the Florida A&M University School of Architecture, Johnson currently serves as the City Architect and Deputy Director of Economic Development. In this role, he oversees major large-scale development projects throughout the city and provides design and construction leadership for city-initiated initiatives. Johnson is the recipient of the Mayor's Leadership Award and is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Orlando, where he currently serves as a State Director. Throughout his distinguished professional career, he has also served as President of AIA Orlando, Director-at-Large, and Chair of the AIA Orlando Golf Tournament.

Jorge A. Borrelli is President and Principal-in-Charge of Borrelli + Partners, provides executive leadership and overall project oversight for the future Pulse Memorial. From the earliest stages of design through project completion, he oversees project vision, quality, coordination, and stakeholder collaboration. Borrelli works closely with the architectural team throughout all phases of the project, helping ensure that the design remains responsive to the needs of the families, survivors, City of Orlando, and broader community while honoring the significance and sensitivity of the memorial. Borrelli has long been committed to community service and has served in numerous leadership and outreach roles throughout his professional career and within the Central Florida community. His understanding of the region and longstanding relationships with public-sector clients and community stakeholders inform his collaborative approach to projects of civic and cultural significance. Borrelli received his Bachelor of Design in Landscape Architecture from the University of Florida in 1987 and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He received certification for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) from the Office of the Attorney General and LEED AP® BD+C certification.

Dan-Michael Trbovich, RA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, serves as Senior Project Manager and Architect of Record for the future Pulse Memorial. Trbovich provides day-to-day leadership and coordination of the architectural team and subconsultants from design through implementation. His extensive experience managing complex civic and community focused projects has supported the successful delivery of welcoming, engaging, and enduring public spaces centered around community connection and user experience. As a LEED® Accredited Professional with a Building Design + Construction specialty, Trbovich believes sustainable design begins with high-performance architecture that considers each stage of a building’s life cycle through an integrated approach to planning, design, and construction. He brings this holistic perspective to every project, balancing long-term performance, functionality, durability, and user experience with the broader goals and aspirations of the client. His approach to the Pulse Memorial is grounded in creating a lasting civic place that is both meaningful and enduring, with architecture that thoughtfully responds to the emotional significance of the site while providing a welcoming environment for families, survivors, the Orlando community, and visitors from around the world. Trbovich received his Bachelor of Design in Architecture and Interior Design from the University of Arizona in 1997 and is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

Nico Guillin is a Creative Director at Local Projects, where he leads multidisciplinary design efforts rooted in architectural and experiential storytelling principles. For the Pulse Memorial project, he is guiding the exhibition and media design components, helping shape the visitor experience through thoughtful integration of narrative, technology, and immersive interpretation. Based in New York City, Local Projects delivers world class work in exhibition and media design, experience design, and media production through an integrated and highly collaborative creative process. At Local Projects, his credits include the Shockoe Institute, The National Juneteenth Museum, Jack Hadley Black History Museum, Hyde Park Barracks Museum, the National Museum of Australia, and Planet Word Museum of Language Arts. In addition to his work with Local Projects, Guillin worked with clients like the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Bob Dylan Center, the Sydney Opera House, and the Melbourne Holocaust Museum. He also served as a senior exhibition designer staff and project management, and architect and consultant coordination for the award-winning Newseum in Washington, D.C. Nico is also an adjunct professor for Pratt Institute’s Exhibition Design Program. He received his M.A. in Industrial Design at the Ecole Superieure de Creation Industrielle, Paris.

With 20 years' experience leading content development for design, Amanda White brings an unmatched depth and breadth of experience to her role as Director of Local Projects’ Content Development and Strategy department. Based in New York City, Local Projects delivers world class work in exhibition and media design, experience design, and media production. White also serves as the content and strategy lead on key projects, including the Shockoe Institute in Richmond, VA, Freedom Tower in Miami, and the Motown Museum in Detroit. Before joining LP, White worked with the United Nations, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and crafted strategic messaging and storytelling for a broad range of other projects and clients. Her work includes many projects that address difficult histories, including close work with vulnerable communities. White’s practice is underpinned by a collaborative ethic. Her expertise is in the combination of inspirational team leadership, lateral thinking, strategic planning, and creative methodologies that she brings to all projects, transforming concepts into impactful experiences for visitor engagement. White received her M.A. in Art History at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.