SANTA FE — A new memorial is currently being planned to honor the lives lost on May 18, 2018. Organizations including the Santa Fe Board of Trustees, Santa Fe ISD, PBK Architects and the Santa Fe Ten Memorial Foundation are set to break ground on a permanent memorial site dedicated to remembering the innocent lives lost.

Chris Green, an associate principal at PBK Architects, is partnering with David Marks, founder of Environmental Design. Marks said the inspiration for the memorial comes from what is known as the “Survivor Tree.”

One tree will stand for each life lost, reflecting the Santa Fe Ten logo, with the 10 trees arranged in a semi-circular formation.

Dubbed “Groundbreaking 2026,” the Santa Fe memorial is intended to be more than a place of remembrance for the students and teachers who lost their lives. Multiple speakers at the Santa Fe Memorial groundbreaking ceremony said the memorial will also serve as a place of honor and reflection for the community.

Several family members of the victims spoke at the podium, sharing stories about their loved ones who lost their lives in the 2018 tragedy.

A completion date for the memorial has not yet been announced by PBK Architects, Santa Fe ISD, the Santa Fe Ten Memorial Foundation or the Santa Fe Board of Trustees.