Disclosed is an elevator system for a multilevel architectural structure, the system having: a system controller, an elevator and an elevator controller, wherein the system controller and elevator controller communicate over a network, multi-level hoistway in which the elevator travels, the multi-level hoistway including a plurality of egress levels, including a first egress level, the first level being a primary egress level, wherein during an alarm condition the system, when the primary level is inaccessible, performs an emergency assessment of identifying a safe level of the plurality of levels at which to discharge passengers, the assessment comprising obtaining a smoke density profile for the egress levels, the profile illustrating a distribution of smoke within the multilevel structure, analyzing the smoke density profile, identifying a safe level having a smoke density that is safe, and instructing the elevator to discharge passengers on the safe level.