A fixed-base building (built directly on the ground) will move with an earthquake’s motion and can sustain extensive damage as a result. When a building is built away (isolated) from the ground, resting on flexible bearings or pads known as base isolators, it will only move a little or not at all during an earthquake.
The William Clayton building in Wellington is one of the original base-isolated structures. It was enlarged and retro-fitted with seismic dampers in 2015.
