Walkout Basement Foundation Egress Proof of Concept

[Question That]

Have a church that currently is slated to get a slab on grade foundation. It is on a steeply sloping site so we are also allowing for a 2 story "addition at the back of the building that will effectively act like a walk out basement. Because of the steep site the sanctuary to be on a slab will require a lot of fill and substantial stepped footings. So now I'm trying to think through all things considered if it might make sense just to do the entire area under the sanctuary as a basement as well.

If we attempt to take this approach it is noted that there will be limited opportunities for additional egress other than through the addition that we already have slated to build. That portion of the building is designed to meet egress requirements for that portion of the building only. It has 2 paths of egress. 1 at walkout basement level directly to grade and another up to the Main Ground Floor level via a stair. Both of these means of egress could also be accessed by the new area being considered.

Is someone willing to help me kind of think through the issues I might be running into by scrapping the slab and all the fill and creating a basement instead? Ideally the space at the new basement could be future use of classrooms and/ offices but I'm thinking that this is doubtfully possible. Any other uses it would be ok for? Storage?
Also curious if anyone has any experience with this type of project relative to the expense of an unfinished full basement vs a slab on grade with deep stepped footings and all the fill involved.

There will also be load consideration for any sort of floor structure to support the congregation so thinking that could get expensive as well.

My gut says I'm probably overcomplicating things & should just proceed forward with building the sanctuary on a slab. But thought I'd buzz by everyone just in case.....

Thanks.

 

[steveray]

There are no steep sites in Florida.......If you are sprinklering it the basement should not be a concern, I can't really speak to cost....

 

[Question That]

Funny on the florida comment. Sounds like you may know a little about down here. Yes only possible walk out basement here might be on a lake filled with aligators and that would even be a stretch.

This is an out of state project for me.

Project currently is not designed to be sprinklered..... but it's not out of the realm of possibilities.

Any quick thoughts as to the feasibility of pulling off a walkout basement basement without a sprinkler system?

thanks for your thoughts and candidness regarding the cost component.

I've had some experience with cost for basements vs crawl space foundations on residences but never for a slab, commercial projects, or on a challenging site such as this.

 

[steveray]

Funny on the florida comment. Sounds like you may know a little about down here. Yes only possible walk out basement here might be on a lake filled with aligators and that would even be a stretch.

This is an out of state project for me.

Project currently is not designed to be sprinklered..... but it's not out of the realm of possibilities.

Any quick thoughts as to the feasibility of pulling off a walkout basement basement without a sprinkler system?

thanks for your thoughts and candidness regarding the cost component.

I've had some experience with cost for basements vs crawl space foundations on residences but never for a slab, commercial projects, or on a challenging site such as this.

I was in Lake Mary yesterday morning....Without a plan it's really tough to help too much...But if you can get pricing on the excavating vs. sprinklers, that might lead you to a decision/ path forward....Keep in mind that the sprinkler system should provide more future flexibility and greater square footage...

 

[mtlogcabin]

They are rare but they are in Florida

$499,500

1693 BISMARCK DRIVE, Deltona, FL 32725​

3bed2bath2,528sqft
Home Pending SaleOn Flyhomes for 4 months
Est.sale price: $546,205


Under contract-accepting backup offers. NO HOA! A LUXURIOUS 3 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHROOMS, AND A 1,018 SQUARE FOOT FINISHED WALK OUT BASEMENT WHICH COULD BE CONVERTED INTO 2 MORE BEDROOMS GIVING A TOTAL OF 5 BEDROOMS,

 

[Question That]

Even funnier. First of all had no idea you could buy anything in florida for less than 750,000 that wasn't a shack.
So, was curious where Deltona was.
And then it got even funnier.
This is the first pic that came up on my screen when I search Deltona.....

Is the house on the left side that house lol?
And why is the water red?



I also note that Lake Mary is close by to that. Are you do insurance work there steveray.....

I'll make a note about considering sprinkler system again.... Once I discuss with the powers to be.