Engineering
Seismic Base Isolation Techniques for Skyscraper Retrofits
Quick fact
Base isolation can reduce the earthquake forces on a building by up to 70% by shifting its natural period away from the dominant earthquake frequencies, yet it is rarely used on skyscrapers because of cost and height limitations.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a skyscraper standing on a set of giant sliders that let the ground move beneath it while the tower stays still. Could that really protect an old building from an earthquake?