The aim of this work is to show an approach for both the retrofit of existing and the design of new industrial precast concrete buildings. This typology has been strongly hit in recent seismic events showing the inappropriate detailing of the typical claddings’ connections. The proposal made in this paper is to connect rigidly the panels to the internal framing creating a dual system where columns and claddings both contribute in terms of stiffness, resistance and energy dissipation. In order to provide an adequate ductility to the panels and to reduce the seismic demand, the inclusion of hysteretic dampers at the lower corners of the external walls is proposed. The methodology is validated in the paper through preliminary pushover analyses of an archetype building. The results show that considering the participation of the panels, the structure becomes stiffer, with a consequent benefit in terms of reduction of the lateral drifts, and its seismic response is improved, thanks to the high energy dissipation provided by the dampers placed at the base of the walls.
