Southern California is famous for its sunshine, surf, and sprawling cities—but it also sits atop one of the most active seismic zones in the world. For architects, builders, and public agencies, that means every building must do more than stand tall—it must know how to move.

At Encore Building Products, we’re proud to support projects that don’t just meet the moment, but plan ahead for the unexpected. Earthquake protection is more than a code requirement—it’s a commitment to the safety of people, the preservation of property, and the resilience of essential infrastructure. And few tools are more powerful—or more fascinating—than base isolators and the seismic expansion joint systems that support them.

The Earth Moves. These Buildings Move Smarter.

When most people think of earthquakes, they imagine buildings shaking and swaying. But in structures like the new Valley Communications Center in San Bernardino or the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s (LACMA) Building for the Permanent Collection, the goal is to do something counterintuitive: disconnect the building from the ground.

That’s the magic of base isolators—ingenious devices installed between the foundation and the superstructure. These isolators are designed to let the building slide, shift, and glide gently during seismic activity, absorbing the energy of an earthquake instead of transferring it to the structure above.

At LACMA, this principle takes on an artful form. The building spans over Wilshire Boulevard and sits atop 56 high-performance isolators, including 50,000-pound giants over nine feet wide, designed to allow movement up to five feet in any direction. These isolators don’t just protect concrete and steel—they protect irreplaceable works of art and the people who come to see them.

As Chris Bell of Clark Construction put it:

    “The advantage of base isolators is that the building can experience a seismic event and suffer minimal damage. The isolation also limits the movement of the building's contents, which in this case is thousands of people and priceless art.”

Seismic Expansion Joints: Making Room to Move

But base isolators alone aren’t the full story. To work effectively, they need space to move—literally. That’s where seismic expansion joints come in. At Encore Building Products, we specialize in providing moat-style seismic joint systems—large-span, concrete-filled trays engineered to span the "moat" between structures or structural segments.

These systems are often hinged or pan-style joints, designed to sit 4 to 6 inches deep (or more) and allow for controlled, multi-directional building movement. In facilities like the Valley Communications Center, where up to 454 emergency planners and responders may operate around the clock, these joints ensure continuous performance, no matter what’s shaking outside.

Working with National Building Specialties, Swinerton Builders, and MM Systems, Encore played a key role in helping this base-isolated command center integrate massive, customized seismic joints—some spanning over 15 feet. Together, these systems form the connective tissue that keeps critical structures secure, accessible, and operational during emergencies.

Tested, Mocked Up, and Built to Last

Back at LACMA, Clark Construction took extra steps to ensure the isolators were not just installed—but proven. Partnering with engineers and the isolator manufacturer, the team built full-scale mockups, tested grout connections, and validated every assumption in real-world simulations. It’s a powerful reminder that resilience doesn’t happen by chance—it’s practiced, tested, and delivered with precision.

Building a Safer Tomorrow

At Encore, we believe seismic systems are more than just products—they’re promises. A promise that during the worst of times, our buildings will still stand. That art will still be preserved. That emergency response won’t stop. That families, workers, and communities will be protected.

As our cities continue to grow, so too must our commitment to resilient design. We’re honored to be a part of these landmark projects—projects that don’t just endure earthquakes, but do so with grace, strength, and purpose.

Because in a region built on fault lines, we’re building something even stronger: confidence.

To learn more about how Encore Building Products can assist you with your next expansion joint project, contact us to schedule an on-line expansion joint seminar or an in-person lunch-and-learn.