> In taller buildings (I visited a DC with around 20 stories IIRC) the stories are not rigidly connected together, so that instead of swaying (and possibly topp

> In taller buildings (I visited a DC with around 20 stories IIRC) the stories are not rigidly connected together, so that instead of swaying (and possibly toppling) during an earthquake, the building just kind of wobbles. This is the reason why Japanese pagodas have survived for so long. https://youtu.be/0tFWn_e71qc?t=2m45s https://youtu.be/0tFWn_e71qc?t=2m45s