The cyclic response of steel coupling beams embedded into reinforced concrete boundary elements was studied. Three half‐scale subassemblies representing a portion of a prototype structure were designed, constructed, and tested. The main test variables were the amount of vertical tension/compression stresses in the boundary element, and presence of auxiliary bars attached to the beam flanges for a smoother transfer of bearing stresses. The steel coupling beams exhibited very stable hysteresis characteristics, and could develop the theoretical plastic moment when the boundary and, hence, the connection region were subjected to normal compressive stresses. Tensile stresses in the boundary element reduced the stiffness, and smaller moments could be developed. A significant amount of dissipated energy could be accounted by that energy dissipated in “plastic hinges” formed in the exposed portion of the coupling beam. The stiffness was found to be different depending on whether the boundary element was under com...