Gilbane Building Company in association with T&G Constructors Selected as Construction Management Firm to Build National Pulse Memorial & Museum
Gilbane will work in partnership with Owner’s Representative PMA; Design Team Coldefy & Associés with RDAI, Orlando-based HHCP Architects; stakeholders; and subconsultants; to achieve the vision of the onePULSE Foundation.
“Gilbane Building Company is honored and humbled to have been chosen to build the National Pulse Memorial and Museum,” said Heidi DeBenedetti, executive vice president and southeast division leader of Gilbane Building Company. “Our entire team is dedicated to delivering a lasting tribute that honors the memory of those whose lives were taken and an inspiring museum that signifies to the world the capacity for love to overcome hate. This project carries so much meaning to the families, survivors, first responders, and the entire Orlando community. Our mission could not be more important. We look forward to working with onePULSE Foundation, PMA and the project partners to realize the inspiring vision for the memorial and museum designed by Coldefy with RDAI | HHCP. Our values align with onePULSE Foundation, and these shared principles of love, hope, strength, courage, unity, and acceptance will guide us throughout the building process.”
“T&G has been a part of this strong community since 1987, and we are honored to take part in its healing with this project. We look forward to this partnership with Gilbane and the rest of the team to make a meaningful impact.” said Mike Wright, CFO of T&G Constructors.
“Gilbane Building Company’s mission and values are deeply aligned with the onePULSE Foundation,” said Dale Hipsh, senior vice president of hotels with Hard Rock International and chair of the onePULSE Foundation Design and Construction Committee. “The firm has extensive experience in building historic cultural institutions and iconic destinations including the National Air and Space Museum, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the National World War II Memorial. These projects demonstrate a commitment to excellence and honoring sacred spaces and stories, which was a crucial factor in the team selection process. This project will help us honor and remember the 49 Angels, Pulse survivors, first responders, and the significant impact on the community both locally and nationally. Together, we will create a new platform to educate future generations and instill a more diverse and inclusive culture. This is a defining mission and healing initiative that we hope inspires supporters who share our vision to outlove hate.”
The National Pulse Memorial & Museum project will break ground in phases, beginning first with the Orlando Health Survivors Walk, followed by the National Pulse Memorial and then the Pulse Museum.
The project is currently in the schematic design phase and following that will be the design development stage. The next phase will include Gilbane Building Company and T&G Constructors working with the Owner’s Representative PMA, and design firm Coldefy with RDAI, alongside HHCP to update the project timeline, master plan and budget, ensuring that design and construction is coordinated with other public improvements already planned by the City of Orlando.
“Like so many other nonprofits across the world over the past year, onePULSE Foundation has been impacted by COVID-19. Although the pandemic has altered the trajectory of our work, the National Pulse Memorial & Museum project continues to move forward,” said Hipsh. “At this time, we are evolving the master plan and working toward a new project timeline.”
About onePULSE Foundation
onePULSE Foundation is the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated to manage the design and construction of the permanent national memorial and museum dedicated to the PULSE tragedy.
onePULSE’s mission is to create and support a memorial that opens hearts, a museum that opens minds, educational programs that open eyes and legacy scholarships that open doors. Its vision is to establish a sanctuary of healing and a beacon of hope by memorializing the lives taken, the lives saved, and all the lives affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy of June 12, 2016 – ensuring Pulse’s legacy of love lives on forever. For more information, visit onepulsefoundation.org.
About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide. Since 1972, Gilbane has been delivering construction services in Florida for clients across diverse market sectors. For more information, visit www.gilbaneco.com.
About T&G Constructors
T&G Constructors was founded in Central Florida in 1987 with offices in Orlando, Miami & Tampa. They are a Hispanic owned commercial general contractor led by Ricardo Gonzalez, President and founder, David Grabosky, Vice President and co-founder, and Michael Wright, Chief Financial Officer. With a focus on total project delivery, T&G can provide services ranging from planning and preconstruction to management and postconstruction, serving multiple market segments: hospitality, entertainment, retail, professional offices, healthcare, historical, education and municipal. Holding a 30+ year history with local clients such as Walt Disney, Universal, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, where the priorities are inclusion and diversity in the field, they have had the opportunity to grow their company. For more information, visit t-and-g.com.