A building structure having one or more of stories and including at least two columns supporting a first of the stories; where at least one of the columns is supported by at least one brace having a first portion and a second portion. The at least one brace has a first configuration in which the first portion is freely moveable with respect to the second portion such that a gap is formed in the brace preventing the transmission of force axially along the brace, and a second configuration in which the gap is closed by the first portion and the second portion being in contact to permit the transmission of forces axially along the brace. The second configuration occurs when the at least one column undergoes a level of deformation sufficient to force the gap to be closed.