Jandra11:
That’s a 4’ sq. opening, you saw cut it, and it is already framed at the top and at the right sides, but you still have to be sure that that framing is adequate for the purpose. It is about 10’ from the ground fl. to the mezz. fl. Again, much more meaningful design info. This kind of info. is important to an experience engineer so he can glean an understanding of the size and proportions of the problem. An example; a cantilever is a cantilever, but a 5” dia., 60’ tall flag pole is a hell of a lot different than a 4’ deep, 2’ long concrete beam corbel, but they are both cantilevers; and an experienced engineer will be looking for those differences because his answers will be completely different for the two conditions. Then, you need a column at the lower left corner and two beams at the left and bottom sides, to carry the mezz. fl. loads, etc. Maybe you could install a long beam btwn. existing framing from left to right or from top to bottom and then a shorter beam to frame the remaining side of the opening This whole framing system must take any lateral loads from the lift into the mezz. Your friend is wrong in putting you in the position of assuring (guaranteeing) that everything works together, without allowing you the time and the money to be sure that they do. Don’t allow yourself to be put in that position, it ruins friendships quickly when the sh*t hit the fan, because things don’t work and aren’t properly coordinated. Does the lift impart any loads on the mezz. structure or is it free standing and independent? These kinds of thing must be worked out for a good final design, otherwise you may save a dollar on engineering, but end up with an really inferior solution.