Downtown's W Austin Hotel, open just seven months, has temporarily shut down after glass rained down from the 37-story building Tuesday afternoon — the third time that's happened in just over two weeks.
The decision to close and move current and incoming guests to neighboring hotels was made jointly by developer Stratus Properties and W management, a spokesman said.
It came just 24 hours after officials announced they would replace almost 1,000 glass panels on the $300 million high-rise's balconies after three of them plunged more than 20 stories to the street below Monday afternoon.
Stratus is working with residents of the condominiums atop the hotel on temporary housing options, as well.
There were no injuries Monday or Tuesday, but four people were hurt June 10 when a pair of panels fell into the hotel's pool area. Two of the people injured filed a lawsuit over the incident on Monday.
"The entire team here at the W couldn't be more devastated that this has occurred," Stratus CEO Beau Armstrong said. "But, unfortunately, after consulting with numerous experts, we still do not know why this has happened.
"We apologize to our hotel guests, our residents, our neighbors and to the city. We will make this right."
Armstrong, who called the situation "very embarrassing" at a Tuesday evening news conference, said permission has been obtained from the City of Austin to shut down lanes on three adjacent streets — Guadalupe, Lavaca and West Third — while the panels are replaced.
"The health and safety of Austinites is paramount," Austin City Manager Marc Ott said, "and the city is committed to taking every precaution."
The city is monitoring the situation and will review any planned modifications, said spokeswoman Samantha Park.
"We are making sure this issue is taken care of," Park said. "It's up to Stratus to do it, and do it safely."
Dan McNabb, the city's division mana
http://www.statesman.com/business/w-hotel-temporarily-shuts-doors-after-more-glass-1568490.html
The decision to close and move current and incoming guests to neighboring hotels was made jointly by developer Stratus Properties and W management, a spokesman said.
It came just 24 hours after officials announced they would replace almost 1,000 glass panels on the $300 million high-rise's balconies after three of them plunged more than 20 stories to the street below Monday afternoon.
Stratus is working with residents of the condominiums atop the hotel on temporary housing options, as well.
There were no injuries Monday or Tuesday, but four people were hurt June 10 when a pair of panels fell into the hotel's pool area. Two of the people injured filed a lawsuit over the incident on Monday.
"The entire team here at the W couldn't be more devastated that this has occurred," Stratus CEO Beau Armstrong said. "But, unfortunately, after consulting with numerous experts, we still do not know why this has happened.
"We apologize to our hotel guests, our residents, our neighbors and to the city. We will make this right."
Armstrong, who called the situation "very embarrassing" at a Tuesday evening news conference, said permission has been obtained from the City of Austin to shut down lanes on three adjacent streets — Guadalupe, Lavaca and West Third — while the panels are replaced.
"The health and safety of Austinites is paramount," Austin City Manager Marc Ott said, "and the city is committed to taking every precaution."
The city is monitoring the situation and will review any planned modifications, said spokeswoman Samantha Park.
"We are making sure this issue is taken care of," Park said. "It's up to Stratus to do it, and do it safely."
Dan McNabb, the city's division mana
http://www.statesman.com/business/w-hotel-temporarily-shuts-doors-after-more-glass-1568490.html