Recent earthquakes have shown the vulnerability of conventional curtain wall glass claddings to seismic actions in large earthquakes. This paper undertakes an initial assessment of some innovative design concepts for glass claddings that can experience large earthquakes with minor or no damage, that enable building users to continue occupying a building without disruption. A multi-criteria analysis based on a façade value framework – functional, strategic, financial and energy value – was used to undertake an initial assessment of four innovative low-damage glass cladding design concepts. The analysis indicates that the most promising design concept is fixed-sliding composite panels. These panels provide lateral stiffness to a building, enabling the required size of primary structural members to the reduced. During large earthquakes sliding connections ‘disconnect’ panels from the primary structure so they are not damaged due to the large lateral displacements of the structure. Further research is required to develop and optimise the design of fixed-sliding panels and determine the relationship between panel design and building structural and energy performance and panel value.