Partial Wall Opening (80 inches)

Hi, I'm not sure I'm at the right place to post this question, if not please let know where I should post it.

I want to partly open a wall in between the kitchen and dinning room. The opening will be about 80 inches wide. The current wall is 15 feet 3 inches wide, with a 29 inches opening (our current entry from dinning to kitchen).

Current: Wall is 15 ' 3 " (including opening)

| opening | ----------------------- Wall -------------------------------------------|
29 "

New project:

| opening | ------------- Wall ----------- | Opening # 2 |------|
29 " | Air returns within the wall | 80 " | 25" |


This wall a load bearing wall. My basement is unfinished and I do see the "I" beam running from one end of the house to the other. The wall to partially open is above the basement, therefore at the ground level. My house has another floor above the 1st storey, being a 2-storey house. My wall is made of 2x6s.

I do understand that I will need a beam in the 80 inch opening.

My question:

I got 2 opinions in regards to needing more support in the basement. One saying I do need more support and the other no I do not. Can anyone shed a light with their experiences ?

Basically, for the case where I would put more support in the basement, it would be 2 metal posts, right underneath the new 2x6s studs (1st floor) holding the new horizontal beam. Therefore, in the basement, the distance in between the 2 metal posts would also be 80 inches. I would have to dig out the existing concrete for the new 2 metal posts, the opening in the concrete would roughly be about 3'x3'x8"(deep).

Can anyone tell me, if the above (partial wall removal) is feasible without adding metal post in the basement?

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I'm not an engineer but I don't see why you would need more support, in the cellar. The header in the new opening would be my question. You might want to have an architect look at it.