The contemplative site is located in the North Springs Improvement District’s nature preserve and is cradled by a grove of trees that creates a sense of enclosure for the memorial and privacy and visual separation from the homes on the other side of the water. The sense of enclosure also balances some moments of unobstructed view of the nature preserve’s canal  which reflects the sky and provides contextual beauty to the memorial. A universally accessible path  provides the approach from the Welcome Center as the primary feature of the memorial- the petals- come into view. The path winds its way to the memorial precinct and brings visitors through two large, planted areas of low native vegetation which act as a land bridge that marks the start of the arrival to the memorial. Continuing on the path beyond the planted land bridge, visitors have the option to move directly into the center of the space, or approach more slowly by circumnavigating the outer path first before entering. 

The memorial is composed of 17 individual petals of a flower representing each of the victims and, together, they become like a bouquet of flowers – a beautiful bundle of individuals. The petals are sculpted of smooth concrete and are ’planted’ in a plinth of a stable stone dust surface which feels soft under the feet and confirms for the visitor that they have entered a sacred space. The space beneath and around the petals serves as a gathering space to mourn as a community or as individuals. The bench seating configurations provide options that offer opportunity for intimate proximity to the petals or somewhat distanced from the center of the memorial for a more solitary experience. Wrapping the edge of the plinth an infinity edge water feature visually connects to the water body beyond and offers the calming and gentle sound of continuously flowing water.

Each petal is oriented towards the angle of the sun on February 14th with the tip highlighting a pin of light on the ground commemorating the time of the massacre. The petals occur in two heights; the 3 taller petals located towards the center of the bouquet represent the adult victims, and the 14 petals representing the students surround them. The stem of each petal is engraved with the name of each victim and story. When it rains, the top of each petal will collect and direct water down its stem to a base of smooth river stones and then back to the earth. This is also the place where flowers and offerings may be placed in remembrance and in honor of the victims. At night, the petals are illuminated from below as a constellation of stars.