Composite Building Structure Comprising A Means to Increase The Elevation At Which Various Levels Of A Building Flood When Floodwaters Are Higher Than the Ground Elevation

Abstract

The design of a composite building structure that includes a building access area ( 115 ), a grade level access area ( 120 ), and a vertical cross access area ( 125 ). Due to the introduction of a vertical cross access area ( 125 ), the building access area ( 115 ) can be elevated at a higher elevation than the grade level access area ( 120 ). Some embodiments provide a means to prevent the occurrence of flooding or to mitigate the severity of flooding of the building access area ( 115 ). Other embodiments, along with dry floodproofing the composite building structure up to the buffer elevation ( 155 ), provide a means to prevent the occurrence of flooding or to mitigate the severity of flooding for the building access area ( 115 ), the grade level area ( 130 ), or a below grade level ( 135 ) of the composite building structure. Alternatively, other aspects provide a method of either entering a building's below grade level or entering a building's above grade level from the ground elevation.

1 . A composite building structure comprising:
 (a) a building access area;   (b) a grade level access area;   (c) a vertical building access area; and   (d) a vertical cross access area;   where said vertical cross access area provides access between said grade level access area and said building access area that requires passing above a buffer elevation, which is at a higher elevation than the ground elevation.   
     
     
         2 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , further including an above grade level. 
     
     
         3 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , further including a below grade level, wherein the components comprising said composite building structure are dry floodproofed up to said buffer elevation. 
     
     
         4 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , further including a grade level area, wherein the components comprising said composite building structure may or may not be dry floodproofed up to said buffer elevation. 
     
     
         5 . The composite building structure of  claim 3 , wherein said below grade level is a parking garage facility. 
     
     
         6 . The composite building structure of  claim 3 , provides a means for said composite building structure to prevent the flooding of said below grade level when floodwaters are above said ground elevation but below said buffer elevation. 
     
     
         7 . The composite building structure of  claim 2 , provides a means for said composite building structure to prevent the flooding of said building access area when floodwaters are above said ground elevation but said buffer elevation. 
     
     
         8 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , provides a means for said composite building structure to reduce insurance premiums. 
     
     
         9 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , provides a means for said composite building structure to reduce the future costs of being self-insured. 
     
     
         10 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , provides a means for said composite building structure to reduce the composite building structure's overall life cycle carbon footprint by reducing the need for associated renovation tasks, comprised of:
 (a) the manufacture of renovation materials;   (b) the transportation of renovation materials;   (c) the installation of renovation materials; and   (d) the transportation of the demolition debris to a landfill, all of which require the consumption of additional energy.   
     
     
         11 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , provides a means for said composite building structure to provide continued use during a flooding event to house evacuees or first responders. 
     
     
         12 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , provides a means for said composite building structure to provide immediate use after a flooding event to house evacuees or first responders. 
     
     
         13 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , provides a means to allow the composite building to secure governmental regulatory approvals due to providing benefits to society at large. 
     
     
         14 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , provides a means to allow the composite building to secure governmental subsidies due to providing benefits to society at large. 
     
     
         15 . The composite building structure of  claim 3 , provides a means to allow said below grade level to be utilized for housing the mechanical systems versus a building owner placing those mechanical systems at or above grade to:
 (a) increase the likelihood those systems remain fully functional;   (b) reduce the building insurance costs; or   (c) reduce the future costs of a building owner being self-insured.   
     
     
         16 . The composite building structure of  claim 3 , provides a means to allow a building owner to build a larger building then the property's local government regulatory limitation due to the ability to place mechanical equipment in space at or above grade and to have the mechanical equipment space excluded from the limitation calculation due to regulatory exemptions. 
     
     
         17 . The composite building structure of  claim 1 , wherein said grade level access area is interior to the composite building structure. 
     
     
         18 . A method of entering a building's below grade level from the ground elevation, comprising the:
 (a) passing through a grade level access area;   (b) passing through a vertical cross access area, which vertically takes the individual above a buffer elevation;   (c) passing through a building access area;   (d) passing through a vertical building access area that allows the individual to access a lower elevation; and   (e) entering the intended below grade level.   
     
     
         19 . A method of entering a building's above grade level from the ground elevation, comprising the:
 (a) passing through a grade level access area;   (b) passing through a vertical cross access area, which vertically takes the individual above a buffer elevation;   (c) passing through a building access area;   (d) passing through a vertical building access area that allows the individual to access a lower elevation; and   (e) entering the intended above grade level.