Redesign of Green Architecture Website

General Information Project Title: Redesign of Green Architecture Website Expiration Date: April 25, 2007 Time Remaining: 30 days from April 25 Bidding Type: Public-Open to Vendors and Freelancers Project Budget: Between $1,000 and $2,500 Primary Skill: Websites-Database/Ecommerce (Dynamic) Secondary Skills: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Type of Website: Others - Database / Ecommerce Type Additional Skills: The SEO aspect of this site is limited just to the design of the site. I understand how to do SEO myself, and intend to. The reason I have included it in the skills needed section is just that there are basic things that should be done to the site during initial construction. This includes the general page design to make it spider friendly. That is basically what I am looking for here. Location Requirements Must Work on Premises? No Description of Organization: We are an architectural studio that handles eco-friendly architectural designs. We want to create a hub-website where eco-architects from all over the world can come to discuss the concepts that are relevant to the field. Website Purpose: Informational & referral generation Other Website Purpose: This will be a combination informational/sales site. The main site will be mostly informational, with the intended purpose of being a marketing platform and lead generation device for the parent architectural firm. Website Need: Website Upgrade/Updates – Complete redo of site, basically a whole new site Other Website Need: There is an existing site, but we are doing a complete redesign. The only things to remain from the original site will be some of the content, re-presented in the new format Functionality Needed: Chat Room / Message Board, Database, Submittal Forms, Search, Backend Web Administration Other Functionality Needed: We want some specific functionality included. On the home page we want an aggregator that automatically collects and republishes posts from other eco-architectural firms via RSS. Additionally, this site should be built with a backend database that allows us to continually add new pages in the future. This will be the first of about 4 new websites, all of which will link back to this main site. All new web initiatives will eventually terminate in this site, so it should be a combination of current information, with ways to automate the collection across the web, plus static information about the company. Approximate number of web pages needed: To start there will be about 6 main pages, each with subsequent subpages. We want you to create these main pages, with a web interface where we can build upon these to add the subpages in the future as we go. I imagine this main site having functionality similar to a blog, in that it automatically creates individual pages for new content that is added. We will have the ability to turn specific pages that are created in this manner into permanent subpages on the site. The key is that all input data should go through a UI, so that none of the users need be able to do any HTML or coding to add content. We are open to basing the architecture on something like PHP-Nuke, but it must have a unique look that is not immediately recognizable as PHP-Nuke. Project Start Date: 4/16/2007 Project Completion Date: 5/11/2007 Database Information: Yes, I will need a database. Online Payments: No, my website will not need an ecommerce module. Programming Language: I prefer a specific programming language, PHP, but we are open to discussion. Desired Programming Language: PHP - but it doesn't have to be this. We are open... The employer will provide:: Colors, Concept, Existing Database, Logo, Records, Text/Copy The professional will provide: Database, Graphics, Layout (some of each – but not all) Technical Assistance Required Following the Project: None – but the potential exists for three other complementary sites that we want to build. Amount of Technical Assistance Needed: We will be looking for future work if this is done well, but the site should be ready to use without help after it is delivered. Need Domain Name Registration: No Need a Hosting Service: No I am looking for a contractor who can offer: Low Price [over Fast Delivery and High Quality] Additional Specifications for the Project: Basically, we want a site that can be added to significantly after it is completed by the designer. So we need a robust scalable site that can aggregate information from other site, and allow the users to add content constantly. The design will be important for this site, as it represents a professional design company. It needs to be easy to use, not overly busy, and simple in layout. As a side note, I know a lot about web design. I have built sites myself in the past. I am working as the interface between the company and the designer, so I will be able to understand issues that arise. I also understand what I am asking for and the general price that is acceptable. Please create your proposals accordingly. Employer Questions: (1) What type of user interfaces you will provide for the company to upload information. (2) How you intend to aggregate information from other sites. My assumption is through RSS.