ORLANDO, Fla. – Crews took down the iconic Pulse Orlando sign Wednesday, a significant step in plans to replace the site of the 2016 massacre with a memorial to the victims.
The sign at the site on Orange Avenue is being methodically disassembled and secured so pieces can be preserved, according to Orlando city officials.
The black and white sign stood as a reminder of the longtime nightclub, as well as a beacon to the temporary memorial for the mass shooting that killed 49 people and injured dozens more.
In the aftermath of the shooting, people left messages on the white base of the sign.
[WATCH: New design images released for permanent Pulse memorial in Orlando]
Design teams recently showed updated renderings that include a reflecting pool and a fountain wall. Items were removed from the nightclub in December to be preserved, and fencing went up around the site last month to begin construction staging.
The city of Orlando is preparing to demolish much of the site to build a permanent memorial. That work is expected to begin on March 18.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.