A preliminary performance-based seismic design methodology is proposed. The top yield displacement of the system is computed from these of the components, which are assumed constant. Besides, a simple procedure to evaluate the top yield displacement of frames is developed. Seismic demands are represented in the form of yield point spectra. The methodology is general, conceptually transparent, uses simple calculations based on first principles and is applicable to asymmetric systems. To consider a specific situation two earthquake levels, occasional and rare are considered. The advantage of an arbitrary assignment of strength to the different components to reduce eccentricities and improved the torsional response of the system is addressed. The methodology is applied to an asymmetric five story building, and the results are verified by push-over analysis and non linear dynamic analysis.