Superelastic　shape　memory　alloys　(SMAs)　have　inherent　properties　of　complete　recovery　of　large　deformation　and　satisfactory　energy　dissipation　under　cyclic　loadings.　Such　properties　have　attracted　wide　attention　within　the　earthquake　engineering　community,　especially　for　the　perspective　of　developing　self-centering　(SC)　structures.　SMA　braced　frames　(SMABFs)　have　emerged　in　recent　years　as　one　of　promising　SC　frames.　This　paper　presents　a　seismic　design　methodology　for　SMABFs　using　the　hysteretic　energy　spectrum.　The　underlying　principle　for　the　proposed　design　methodology　is　that　both　the　total　hysteretic　energy　and　accumulated　ductility　demands　in　earthquake　resistant　structures　are　correlated　with　the　maximum　endured　deformation.　With　the　quantitative　relationship,　the　seismic　performance　target,　such　as　the　maximum　interstory　drift　ratio,　can　be　readily　achieved.　The　spectra　of　hysteretic　energy　and　accumulated　ductility　demands　are　first　constructed　in　this　study　for　the　single-degree-of-freedom　(SDOF)　systems　which　represent　the　global　behavior　of　SMABFs.　The　SDOF　system　based　results　were　then　utilized　for　the　development　of　an　iterative　design　procedure　for　multistory　SMABFs.　Both　3-　and　6-story　SMABFs　are　designed　for　representative　low-to-medium　rise　building　structures　and　subjected　to　a　suite　of　earthquake　ground　motions　scaled　to　the　design　basis　earthquake　(DBE)　and　maximum　considered　earthquake　(MCE)　seismic　hazard　levels.　Computational　simulation　results　show　that　the　designed　SMABFs　satisfy　the　performance　target　very　well.　The　proposed　methodology　is　demonstrated　to　be　effective　and　efficient　for　seismic　design　of　SMABFs,　but　could　also　shed　light　on　other　SC　structures.　(C)　2019　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.