The empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method is well-known for its ability to decompose a multi-component signal into a set of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). The method uses a sifting process in which local extrema of a signal are identified and followed by a spline fitting approximation for decomposition. This method provides an effective and robust approach for decomposing nonlinear and non-stationary signals. On the other hand, the IMF components do not automatically guarantee a well-defined physical meaning hence it is necessary to validate the IMF components carefully prior to any further processing and interpretation. In this paper, an attempt to use the EMD method to identify properties of nonlinear elastic multi-degree-of-freedom structures is explored. It is first shown that the IMF components of the displacement and velocity responses of a nonlinear elastic structure are numerically close to the nonlinear normal mode (NNM) responses obtained from two-dimensional invariant manifolds. The IMF components can then be used in the context of the NNM method to estimate the properties of the nonlinear elastic structure. A two-degree-of-freedom shear-beam building model is used as an example to illustrate the proposed technique. Numerical results show that combining the EMD and the NNM method provides a possible means for obtaining nonlinear properties in a structure.