High winds are thought to be the cause of the cracks in the New York Times HQ building

New York inspectors are to examine Renzo Piano’s recently-completed New York Times Headquarters after seven of the tower’s windows cracked last week.

Windows on the buildings’ sixth, 10th, and 22nd floors cracked on 8th January, while ceramic rods on the 38th and 40th floors were also damaged.

New York’s Department of Buildings said high winds in the city were to blame for the cracks, but are to send inspectors to determine exactly how they occurred.

The cracks are not the first problem involving the tower’s window – last month, a man claimed to have been struck by glass falling from a window on the 17th floor of the building.

In addition, ice falling from the tower’s ceramic rods during a cold snap before Christmas caused surrounding pavements to be closed for the day.

AMEC Construction Management, the tower’s contractor, is to repair the windows and ceramic rods.