Random Commuter Observations

There's a new building going up along my walk from the Metro to the office. It's located at 9th and E here in Dee Cee on what must have been one of the very last undeveloped pieces of ground left in the downtown area.

The construction company is employing two of those giant cranes in its work. What struck me is that while one of the cranes is anchored on the street to the side of the building, the other one sits right in the midst of the construction, about fifteen feet in from one side - the building is literally rising up all around it, with a large square left open in each new floor as they're put in.

Now I have two questions about this: First, how are they going to get the bloody crane out when they're done? Second, what will the tenants do with the leftover shaft?

(Actually, since it's reported that the building is being put up by some ginormous internationl law firm or other, I've an idea they already have plans for the shaft.)