Why are windows knocked out of the Westin tower?
Residential neighborhoods southeast of downtown saw many trees lost and homes damaged. A large part of the converted Cotton Mill Lofts collapsed, and historic Oakland Cemetery lost many monuments and trees as well. Downtown, damage primarily involved glass being sucked out of tall buildings and blown into the streets, where it shattered. Replacing the windows in the Peachtree Plaza, for example, has not been easy, since the curved glass panels must be specially made and installation 73 floors above the street difficult. In the meantime, the hotel has replaced the missing windows with black plyboard panels that give it a somewhat “crossword puzzle” appearance. Officials say it may be months still before everything is back to normal.
