Tragedy struck the Michigan State University campus on February 13, 2023 when a mass shooting left three dead and five injured. In wake of the devastating event, the university seeks to erect a permanent memorial honoring the lives lost and those affected. Last week, the school in East Lansing, Michigan, landed on the final design for this commemorative construction: a circular fountain and reflection pond designed by Jessica Guinto and Carlos Portillo. The memorial will offer students, faculty, victim’s families, and others a new place to sit and reflect in the Old Horticultural Garden near the Student Services Building.
The selected design, announced at a special Board of Trustees meeting on August 15, followed more than a year of consultation with students, faculty, staff, community members, and families most directly impacted by the tragedy. MSU president Kevin M. Guskiewicz, approved the final design after reviewing the recommendations of the Feb. 13 Permanent Memorial Planning Committee and feedback from nearly 5,000 individuals who participated in surveys and focus groups.
“This permanent memorial offers a place for reflection, healing and remembrance — a space where our community can honor the lives lost and those who were injured and affected,” Guskiewicz said.
The design incorporates water, polished white marble, and rough-cut black granite to create a contemplative environment. At its center, a round reflective pool is set to shimmer with light and remain active throughout the winter months. Marble benches and pediment stones will provide places for rest and remembrance, while surrounding mounds of native plantings and seasonal flowers will transform with the seasons.
The memorial is similar to SWA’s Sandy Hook Memorial. Both honoring the victims of devastating school shootings, both with pool, creating space for quiet contemplation, reflection, and remembrance.
“We wanted to honor the victims and those affected by the tragedy, while also promoting healing and unity on campus,” Guinto and Portillo said. “We hope our design provides a place of reverence and peace, a welcoming yet intimate gathering space for the MSU community.”
The memorial committee, established in October 2023, guided the selection process with support from MSU’s National Charrette Institute and the Office for Resource and Support Coordination, which also engaged in private conversations with those most directly impacted. After an open call to artists nationwide, three finalists were selected and presented for community feedback.
“From the earliest stages of this project — including input from those most directly impacted — through the final design selection, the MSU and surrounding communities played a vital role in shaping the memorial,” said Judith Stoddart, vice provost for University Arts and Collections.
Construction is expected to begin in fall 2025, with completion targeted for fall 2026. The memorial will join existing efforts to honor the victims, including a bench installed near Berkey Hall in memory of students Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser, and Alexandria Verner.
Meanwhile, the MSU Museum continues to catalog and preserve thousands of memorial items, from letters and signs to candles and stuffed animals, that were left across campus in the days following the tragedy. While currently in restricted access, the collection will eventually be made available in a trauma-informed manner.
Through these initiatives, MSU leaders and community members hope the memorial and museum archive will stand as a lasting testament to resilience, remembrance, and healing.
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