Vandals painted shout and peace on the south side of The Oread's top viewing deck over the weekend.

Vandals painted shout and peace on the south side of The Oread's top viewing deck over the weekend.

Vandals gained access during the weekend to a restricted area of Lawrence’s newest skyscraper and painted graffiti on its limestone walls.

“We are saddened by this kind of vandalism and hope it doesn’t happen again,” Nancy Longhurst, general manager of The Oread, said in a statement.

The words “SHOUT” and “PEACE” were painted on the ninth-floor terrace of the building, 1200 Oread Ave., in white and black lettering, on a blue backdrop.

Patti McCormick, spokeswoman for the hotel, said the area is not open to the public and “you have to really work to get up there.”

Workers tried sandblasting the graffiti on Monday but were unsuccessful in removing all of it.

Parts of the hotel have been open since the first of the year, but the Oread’s grand opening is set for this Saturday. It is an invitation-only event.