The working heart of Manhattan.

The Grand Central Partnership (GCP) is a non-profit organization that oversees and provides supplemental services to one of the largest business improvement districts in the world. They have jurisdiction over 70 square blocks of midtown Manhattan that include some of New York City’s most popular landmarks.

The neighborhood has much to offer native New Yorkers and tourists alike, but their old website did not communicate this effectively. GCP wanted to redesign the site so that it could showcase events, accommodate multimedia content, increase newsletter sign-up, and organize information in a way that is relevant to their audience.

A destination for visitors.

SD re-worked multiple aspects of GCP’s website to help them meet their goals. We improved the information architecture to make popular content easy to find, and cross-referenced information using categories and tags. Connecting content in this way keeps users engaged with the site by suggesting that there is other, related information that might interest them. To ensure that the website stays timely and relevant, we outfitted GCP with a customized WordPress CMS. Now, they can easily and autonomously add events, local deals, and traffic advisories as they arise.

The website’s visual design allows GCP to emphasize certain information by featuring it in the mantle or sidebar. We chose colors and typography that made the content legible and easy to digest. An increased emphasis on photography helps visitors get a feel for the neighborhood, and lets GCP highlight the places that make midtown special.

Additional features include a Flickr photo gallery and an interactive map, both of which can managed by GCP. Photos added to their Flickr account will be pulled into the website’s sidebar automatically. The map is powered by Google Maps, and is customized to display local attractions, hotels, services, restaurants, stores, and nightlife. We used Google Maps API V3 so that the map functions just as quickly when viewing it on a mobile device.

Word on the street

GCP’s website is now a reliable resource for timely information. The look and feel of the site is more in line with their brand, and the new features increase its value for visitors. We hope that the new website is a useful tool for the organization, and look forward to collaborating with GCP again in the future.