Privacy Policy

What We Collect (And Why)

When you fill out our contact form or send us an email, we'll collect basics like your name, email address, phone number, and whatever details you share about your project. We need this stuff to actually respond to you and understand what you're looking for.

If you become a client, we'll obviously need more - project addresses, specifications, maybe some financial info for contracts. Standard architectural practice stuff. We also hang onto project files, drawings, and correspondence because, well, we kinda need those to do our job properly.

Our website collects some technical data too - IP addresses, browser types, pages you visit. Nothing creepy, just helps us keep the site running smoothly and figure out if anyone's actually reading our blog posts.

How We Use Your Information

Pretty straightforward - we use what you give us to provide architectural services. That means designing your space, managing projects, sending you updates, answering questions, and keeping you in the loop about timelines and milestones.

Sometimes we'll send newsletters or updates about our work, but only if you've said that's cool with you. And honestly? You can opt out anytime. No hard feelings.

We might also use aggregated data (nothing that identifies you personally) to improve our services and understand what kind of projects folks in Vancouver are interested in these days.

Who We Share It With

Here's the deal - we're not selling your info to random marketing companies or anything sketchy like that. But architecture isn't a solo sport, so we do share information when necessary:

• Contractors, engineers, and consultants who're working on your project (they need specs and plans, obviously)
• Local authorities and building departments when submitting permit applications
• Our professional liability insurance provider if required
• Legal or financial advisors when contracts are involved
• Service providers who help us run the business - think cloud storage, email systems, accounting software

Everyone we work with is bound by confidentiality agreements. We're picky about who we collaborate with.

Cookies & Tracking

Yeah, we use cookies. Not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately. These are small files that help our website remember your preferences and function properly. They also help us see which pages people visit most and how long they stick around.

We use Google Analytics to understand our traffic better. It's anonymized data, so we're not tracking individual visitors around the internet. Most browsers let you block cookies if you want, though some features might not work as smoothly.

Your Rights

Under Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA, specifically), you've got rights. You can ask to see what personal information we have about you. Want us to correct something that's wrong? Just let us know. In some cases, you can request deletion of your data, though we might need to keep certain records for legal or professional reasons.

If you've signed up for our newsletter or updates, you can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of any email. Or just shoot us a message.

How We Protect Your Data

We take security seriously. Our systems use encryption, secure servers, and regular backups. Access to client information is limited to team members who actually need it for your project. We don't leave sensitive documents lying around, and our digital files are password-protected.

That said, no system is 100% foolproof. We do everything reasonable to protect your information, but can't guarantee absolute security. It's just being honest.

How Long We Keep Your Data

For active projects, we obviously keep everything we need while we're working together. After a project wraps up, we're required by our professional association to retain architectural records for at least 10 years. That's standard practice across the industry and protects both you and us if questions come up down the road.

For general inquiries that don't turn into projects, we'll typically keep your contact info for a couple years in case you circle back to us. After that, we clean house.

Third-Party Links

Our website might link to other sites - maybe a manufacturer's page or a building product we recommend. Once you click through to another site, this privacy policy doesn't apply anymore. We don't control those other sites, so check out their policies if you're concerned.

Changes to This Policy

We might update this policy occasionally as our practices evolve or regulations change. When we do, we'll update the date at the top and post the revised version here. For significant changes, we'll probably send out a heads-up to our client list.

Portfolio & Project Photos

We love showcasing our work - it's how potential clients get a feel for what we do. Before we feature any project in our portfolio or on social media, we'll always get your written permission. If you'd prefer to keep your project private, that's completely fine. No pressure whatsoever.

Questions or Concerns?

If something in here doesn't make sense, or you've got questions about how we handle your information, just reach out. We're real people and happy to chat about it.