Website Redesign Project & Client Details

Client: California Seismic Safety Commission
Date: May 2026
Website: California Seismic Safety Commission
Technologies:
- HTML5
- CSS3
- jQuery
- Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
- WordPress
Devices:
- Smartphones: iPhone, Android
- iPads & Tablets
- Laptop
- Desktop
Compatible Browsers:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Safari
- Microsoft Edge
- IE 9+
- Opera

Project Overview

Capitol Tech Solutions partnered with the California Seismic Safety Commission (SSC), a division within the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), to modernize the Commission’s public website and commemorate a century of seismic safety leadership through an interactive digital experience.

The project included a complete redesign of the SSC website, migration to the State’s modern WordPress platform, alignment with Cal OES branding standards, accessibility improvements, content modernization, and development of an interactive 100 Years of Seismic Safety timeline using Esri ArcGIS StoryMaps.

The result is a modern, accessible website that makes seismic safety information easier to discover while preserving and showcasing more than a century of California earthquake policy, legislation, research, and resilience initiatives.

The Challenge

The existing website no longer reflected the modern Cal OES digital experience and presented opportunities to improve usability, accessibility, branding consistency, and content organization.

The Commission also wanted to celebrate its history through an engaging interactive experience rather than a traditional static timeline. The solution needed to present decades of historical events, legislation, photographs, and educational content in a way that was intuitive, visually compelling, and easy to maintain.

The project objectives included:

Modernize the public website
Align the design with Cal OES branding
Improve accessibility and usability
Refresh and reorganize website content
Create an interactive centennial timeline
Provide knowledge transfer and documentation for SSC staff

These objectives directly reflected the goals outlined in the RFO.

Our Solution

Capitol Tech Solutions delivered a complete digital modernization initiative that included:

Full redesign and redevelopment of the California Seismic Safety Commission website
Migration to the California WordPress multisite platform
Responsive design optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
Accessibility-focused implementation following modern web standards
Content audit, reorganization, and content migration
Consistent application of Cal OES visual branding
Development of an interactive “100 Years of Seismic Safety” experience using Esri ArcGIS StoryMaps
Staff training and knowledge transfer to support long-term website management

The ArcGIS StoryMap serves as a centerpiece of the website, allowing visitors to explore California’s seismic safety history through photographs, milestones, legislation, maps, and historical context presented in an engaging narrative format.

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Technologies Used

WordPress
California State Web Design System
Esri ArcGIS StoryMaps
Responsive Web Design
WCAG Accessibility Best Practices
Content Strategy & Information Architecture
UX/UI Design

Results

The completed solution provides the Seismic Safety Commission with:

A modern public-facing website aligned with Cal OES branding
Improved navigation and information architecture
Enhanced accessibility for all users
Easier content management for SSC staff
A visually engaging interactive timeline celebrating more than 100 years of California seismic safety leadership
A scalable platform capable of supporting future content growth