Method of constructing a building in a typically flood prone area employing a pre-cast concrete chain wall

A method of constructing a building in a flood prone location, comprising the steps of:

• a) selecting a building site having a surface at a grade elevation;
• b) constructing a self supporting, one piece liftable pre-cast concrete chain wall foundation at a location away from the building site, said constructing including the filling of a mold with reinforcement and concrete that sets after the pour and wherein the pre-cast concrete chain wall foundation has a plurality of corner columns, a plurality of intermediate columns spaced in between the corner columns, upper and lower spaced apart beams, and a plurality of openings that are surrounded by upper and lower beams and columns, wherein the beams and columns are of precast concrete construction, wherein load transfer from each beam to another is through one of said precast concrete columns and not via external fasteners;
• c) transporting the pre-cast concrete chain wall of step “b” to the building site of step “a” using a load carrying vehicle;
• d) unloading the pre-cast concrete chain wall from the load carrying vehicle;
• e) placing the pre-cast concrete chain wall on the building site and wherein the lower beams are at least partially below grade elevation;
• f) placing a building on the pre-cast concrete chain wall after step “e”, wherein the building is a walled structure having walls that rest upon and transfer load to the chain wall.