AbstractThe seismic safety issues of hydropower station ground powerhouse buildings cannot be ignored in the process of hydraulic engineering construction. Through the investigation of past hydropower project disasters, it is found that the earthquake damage of large volume concrete structure is less, and the earthquake damage of auxiliary buildings mainly composed of column structure is more serious. The earthquake damage of the superstructure will directly threaten the life safety of its staff and affect the power supply of rescue and disaster relief. The superstructure and substructure structures of the hydropower station exhibit significant mass and stiffness irregularities, which will result in a strong whipping effect on the superstructure during earthquakes, especially for frame‐column structures with low stiffness, representing a vulnerable link in seismic resistance. In response to the common issues mentioned above, this paper takes the ground powerhouse of a hydropower station in Indonesia as an example and conducts seismic response analysis of the superstructure of the powerhouse. A comparative analysis of the dynamic response characteristics of two different design schemes, with the superstructure being frame‐column and wall structures, under seismic action is carried out. The results indicate that seismic waves transmitted from the foundation, amplified by the substructure, significantly impact the seismic response of the superstructure. The dynamic response of the superstructure with wall structures is less than that of the column structures. By adding solid walls to the superstructure, the seismic performance of the powerhouse can be effectively improved.