he 2015 NBCC Commentary J and ASCE 7-16 provide a simple two-step analysis procedure for podium buildings with different criteria. Nonlinear time-history dynamic analysis results show that neither criterion can ensure such designed podium buildings to meet the performance-based seismic design requirements per NEESWood. A new criterion based on normalized stiffness and mass ratios was therefore developed at FPInnovations. The analysis results show that when the normalized stiffness ratio is equal to or greater than 10 times the normalized mass ratio, the podium buildings designed by the two-step analysis procedure can meet the requirements.