Tornado-Damaged Westin Elevator Reopens

ATLANTA — Nearly 30 months after a tornado damaged an Atlanta landmark, renovation is nearing completion.

The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel became a pock-marked symbol of the storm when the tornado's 130 mph winds blew out 1,500 windows on the reflective skyscraper in 2008.

The hotel's signature exterior glass elevator reopened and Channel 2's David Chandley got an exclusive look.

General Manager Ed Walls told Chandley the elevator is one of the last pieces of the renovation, which included replacing 6,350 windows.

"The glass originally was quarter-inch heat-strengthened glass that was reflective and probably state-of-the-art back in 1975. The new stuff has to be a lot stronger and we learned a little bit about physics. The wider and longer the windows are, the stronger and thicker they have to be. They are much more energy-efficient now as well," Walls told Chandley.

Walls said all of the windows should be replaced by the end of September.

The Westin Peachtree Plaza is the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere with 73 stories, and remained a big draw to tourists, despite the construction.

"I think that everybody has a memory of the Sundial or has been up here. Part of the fun of coming up to the restaurant is coming up on the outside elevators," said Walls.

Chris Waters traveled from Chattanooga to ride to the top. "I thought it was fantastic. It's amazing how fast it moves, it's almost overwhelming," said Waters.

WSBTV