build them below grade.

Build them in the Midwest.

Ba-boom ching! Thank you, everyone, I'll be here all week.

Not have an architect responsible for its seismic design?

Regular architect response: "I ask my engineer to figure it out".

parametric architect response: "Fuck you! That's how."

that is correct. let the structural engineer be the designer

There is more to seismic requirements than just protecting the structure portion of the umm...  structure. Exterior envelope (brick to glazing), and interior finishes (ceilings to bookshelves) all need to be either properly restrained and/or designed with movement tolerances. Some of these will be designed by engineer of record, but common strategy is to assign the work as delegated design (meaning the contractor/manufacturer will hire thir own engineer).

Codes cover all the minimum requirements for pretty much any component you can think of. Proper amount of paper shufflework will ensure that all the requirements are met.

Next week on "Transparence asks tough questions": Floors; what's up with that? Do we really need them?

look up Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, CA.