 |
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
History In 1972, the Henry Grady Hotel was demolished to make room for what is now one of the defining features of the Atlanta skyline - The Westin Peachtree Plaza. Atlanta's world-renowned architect, John Portman, designed the dramatic layout of the hotel. At 723 feet, The Westin Peachtree Plaza was Atlanta's tallest building until 1987, when it was surpassed by One Atlantic Center. Today, The Westin Peachtree Plaza is the fifth tallest building in Atlanta, surpassed in height by the Bank of America building (1023 feet), Sun Trust Plaza (871 feet), One Atlantic Center 820 feet), and 121 Peachtree Tower (770 feet). The Westin Peachtree Plaza remains the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere. The 73-story hotel is a cylindrical tower clad in reflective glass and consists of 1,100 rooms and 80,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition facilities. The dynamic, 90-foot sky-lit lobby incorporates art and elements of nature into its attractive design. The uppermost floors house a tri-level revolving restaurant, The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar and View, offering unparalleled views of Atlanta and the ultimate Atlanta dining experience. Accessing the restaurant is a scenic event that begins with an exhilarating 85-second ride in the exterior glass elevator cab. Other hotel amenities include a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, cafés and lounges. Located in the heart of downtown, Atlanta's top business venues and tourist attractions including CNN Center, Centennial Olympic Park, Turner Stadium, World of Coca-Cola and Georgia Dome are within a few steps. |
 |
|
| Architect - John Portman Atlanta's world-renowned architect, John Portman, designed the dramatic layout of the Westin Peachtree Plaza. Established in 1953, John Portman and Associates is an internationally recognized architectural and engineering firm specializing in designing hotels, universities, offices, trade marts and mixed use urban complexes around the world. Portman has long been committed to the development of downtown Atlanta, demonstrated by the active role he takes in civic affairs. He led the city's first comprehensive study for downtown in 1969 while serving as President of Central Atlanta Progress, was instrumental to the construction of the city's rapid rail system in the '70s, and initiated the idea of the Georgia World Congress Center to help foster Atlanta's growing convention industry. He has twice served as a Director of the Chamber of Commerce and in a number of other key offices. Portman has received numerous awards for his achievements, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Design Build Institute of America, and was named one of the "100 Most Influential Georgians" and a "Georgian of the Century" by Georgia Trend. |
||