VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – The City of Virginia Beach is expected to give an update on the design process of the 5/31 memorial on Thursday, Oct. 10.

The memorial will honor the 12 people who were shot and killed and five injured in a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center on May 31, 2019.

Thursday’s update from Dills Architects is anticipated to be the last step before construction begins on the memorial on Princess Anne Road and Nimmo Parkway. Virginia Beach City Council approved $9.7 million to design and build the memorial.

The city held the first 5/31 memorial committee meeting in February 2022. Since then, there have been five listening sessions, a town hall and a public input survey for survivors and the community to have a say in the memorial planning process, location and design. In 2023, Dills Architect with SWA was chosen to lead the design process.

In September of 2023, architects gave an update on the design, stating the memorial will have the names of the 12 people who died, as well as 150 canopy lights, representing the total years of service the victims made to the city, to illuminate the pathways at night. It will serve as a place of quiet reflection.

The meeting is expected to start at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

It is open to the public and will also be available via live streaming on VirginiaBeach.gov/media and the City’s Facebook page.