Buckling-restrained　braces　play　a　critical　role　as　the　first-defendant　line　in　dissipating　seismic　energy　and　are　often　used　in　concrete　frame　structures　to　ensure　that　the　main　beam–column　members　are　＇undamaged＇　or　significantly　elastic　during　medium　earthquakes.　The　design　of　the　reinforced　concrete　frame　structures　with　buckling-restrained　brace　is　generally　based　on　the　assumption　of　shear　deformation　of　the　structure.　The　conventional　seismic　design　considers　the　＇second-defendant　line　design＇　based　on　the　geometric　relationship　between　the　axial　deformation　and　strength　of　buckling-restrained　braces　and　stratified　deformation.　This　article　proposes　iterative　optimization　of　the　buckling-restrained　brace　design　method　and　layout　scheme　based　on　the　nonlinear　structural　response　of　the　calibrated　numerical　model,　and　then　approximates　the　nonlinear　structure　scheme　using　a　linear　method.　Time　history　analyses　are　performed　to　prove　that　the　linear　design　method　is　highly　conservative　for　estimating　seismic　intensity,　and　the　proposed　design　method　provides　more　efficient　damage　distributions　in　frame　components.　The　results　of　the　nonlinear　performance　evaluation　and　energy　analysis　indicate　that　the　method　proposed　in　this　article　can　meet　the　performance　design　requirements　achieving　multi-performance　criteria.　©　The　Author(s)　2019.