Associative Trails

Old Arupians Community Website (2006)

Fostering community fellowship

A thorough refresh of one of our most venerable and successful projects. Now fully responsive and even easier to use.

The challenge

Arup wanted a simple and secure way for retired ex-employees to keep in touch with each other and stay abreast of the latest company news. Community members needed to be able to keep their own contact details updated without having to learn new technical skills.

Latest news listing

The solution

The password-protected community website includes sections for latest news, events, a contacts directory and an area where members can download the latest Arup publications in PDF format. All content administration is performed via simple web forms and all users can add their own news items, events and keep their contact details up to date.

Our research into web interfaces for older users helped us design a simple and effective interface, with Arup's in-house graphic designers providing colour, typography and logos.

Secure member access
Events and member RSVP

“Thank you very much for helping us to reach this milestone. Without your patience, wonderful expertise and hard work we would still be dreaming about it..”

The outcome

The site went live in good time for the Old Arupians 2006 annual meeting, with the RSVP functionality proving particularly useful.

Barbara Miller of Arup continues: "I would also add that the website has already paid dividends in enabling quick and easy communication with a large proportion of our community. As the generation now retiring has become accustomed to internet usage through their work we expect its value and use to increase and the day will soon come when it is our main communication line with our retired staff."

Contacts directory
User-administered content
Administrator-only interface

Technologies used

Adobe Coldfusion, Microsoft SQL Server, XHTML, CSS.

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