The bare frame specimen F1 provided a flexible pseudoelastic response governed by strength rather than ductility and mainly ascribed to the behavior of its beam-column connections consisting of vertical steel dowels and rubber pads. Both low residuals up to 2% drift levels and energy dissipation estimates confirmed this trend. Global collapse occurred at 3% drift cycles as a consequence of local failures of the vertical steel dowels in three beam-column joints after a significant propagation of damage in the corbels. A similar mechanism was identified in the aftermath of the 2012 Emilia earthquakes.