Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name= Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel


caption= Westin Peachtree in Downtown Atlanta
preceded=
year_built=
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location= 210 Peachtree Street
Atlanta
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constructed= 1976
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destroyed=
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roof= 723 feet (220 meters)
top_floor=
floor_count= 73
floor_area=
elevator_count=
cost=
architect= John Portman and Associates
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The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel is a skyscraper and hotel in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, adjacent to the Peachtree Center complex. It is 220 meters (723 feet) tall, and rises 73 stories from ground level. Its diameter is 188 ft (57 m). It is the second tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. [ [http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/tp/ty/ho/ World's Tallest Hotels ] ]

History

Designed by developer/architect John Portman, the building gained landmark status within the city as Atlanta's tallest building from its completion, in 1976, to 1987 when it was overtaken by One Atlantic Center. The building opened as the tallest hotel in the world; in 1977, however, it was surpassed by its architectural twin, the central hotel tower of the Portman-designed Renaissance Center in Detroit. The Peachtree Plaza Hotel opened as the tallest building in the southeastern United States, surpassing One Shell Square in New Orleans. It lost that title in 1983, when the Wachovia Financial Center in Miami surpassed it.

Architectual Details

The building is cast in reflective glass in a cylindrical shape that reflects much of the downtown skyline. Another small cylinder runs the full height of the building on one side, and accommodates two scenic elevators. The uppermost floors hold the [http://www.sundialrestaurant.com/ Sun Dial Restaurant and Bar] , a revolving restaurant that offers panoramic views of the city and its environs. The top floor of the restaurant completes a full revolution every 30 minutes, and the bottom every 60 minutes.

Broadcasting

Several local broadcasters have transmitted from an antenna tower atop the building. The main antenna currently belongs to WZGC FM 92.9 ("Dave FM"), while a smaller antenna carries backup signals for that station and WVEE FM 103.3 ("V-103"), both owned by CBS Radio. WWWQ FM 100.5 ("Q100") first used the same antenna when it moved to Atlanta, before it upgraded and relocated within the city. The main antenna once carried the signal of WUPA-TV 69, but that station moved because the Westin tower lacked space for an antenna to send the station's digital television signal. WSTR FM 94.1 ("Star 94") also shared the main FM antenna with Dave FM when it was originally installed, with the power from both stations' transmitters being combined into a single antenna through a diplexer.

2008 Atlanta Tornado

*"See article: 2008 Atlanta tornado outbreak."On March 14, 2008, the Westin, along with other neighboring skyscrapers, sustained moderate damage when a tornado tore through downtown Atlanta, with over 500 windows damaged. It was the first tornado to hit the downtown area since weather record keeping began in the 1880s. [http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/03/14/domeburst_0315.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab Tornado Kills, 2 Pummels Downtown] by Tim Eberly and Paul Shea for the "Atlanta Journal and Constitution, March 15, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.]

ee also

*List of skyscrapers
*List of tallest buildings in Atlanta

Notes and References

External links

* [http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1023 Official Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel Webpage]