Above-Grade Pool Deck Engineering

I’m planning a recreation-focused pool that sits 3.5 ft deep inside a 20 × 50 ft cavity, centered in a 50 × 70 ft concrete deck that is elevated above grade and attached to my New York home. To make the numbers work I need a creative structural engineer who can blend geofoam, selective framing, and the right amount of concrete so the structure stays lean without sacrificing safety or code compliance. Key points you’ll help me resolve • Load-path, soil, and buoyancy checks for the pool shell and surrounding deck. • An efficient geofoam strategy that minimizes backfill weight yet provides stable bearing for the slab. • Integration of a waterproof storage bay underneath one end of the deck (nowhere below the pool), including drainage, ventilation, and service-access details. • Full structural drawings, calculations, and NY-state permitting notes ready for contractor pricing. • Value-engineering notes highlighting cost drivers and suggested alternates before we lock the design. I have preliminary sketches and site photos ready to share and can arrange a survey if required. Let me know your relevant pool or elevated-deck projects, preferred analysis software, and estimated timeline so we can dive right in.