Base isolation is an earthquake protection system that involves installing seismic isolation bearings between a structure's foundation and superstructure. This significantly increases the natural period of the structure and adds damping, reducing the seismic response. Common base isolation bearings include elastomeric isolators and sliding isolators. Two examples given are the historic Oakland City Hall and San Francisco City Hall, which were retrofitted with base isolation systems after being damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. This helped preserve their historic integrity while improving seismic performance.