A rigid substructure (12) tied to a restrained column (16) at different floors undergoes rigid body rotation due to lateral dynamic loading. Flexural members (18) that are connected to the substructure (12) and another anchor column (14) resist the rigid body rotation and undergo vertical deflections. Damped diagonals (20) connected to common nodes of the rigid substructure and flexural members, for one embodiment, receive amplified displacements and more effectively dissipate energy. Flexural members restore the structure to the unloaded position. The system does not require moment connections and can work with flexure induced in simply supported beams. The system is highly effective and may remain elastic under maximum considered earthquake ground motions.