Privacy Policy

We're not selling your info or doing anything weird with it. Here's what we actually do:

• Design & deliver: Use your project details to create architectural plans that actually fit what you need.
• Stay connected: Send you updates about your project, answer questions, schedule site visits.
• Legal stuff: Keep records for contracts, permits, and regulations - y'know, the boring but necessary parts.
• Improve our services: Understand what works and what doesn't so we can keep getting better at what we do.
• Occasional updates: If you're cool with it, we might send you news about sustainable design trends or showcase completed projects. You can opt out anytime.

We don't just hand out your info to anyone. But sometimes we need to share it with:

• Project partners: Engineers, contractors, consultants who're working on your project with us. Everyone needs to be on the same page.
• Service providers: Companies that help us run our business - like our cloud storage for plans or email service. They're bound by confidentiality agreements.
• Legal requirements: If the law says we gotta share something, we will. Building permits, municipal requirements, that sort of thing.
• With your permission: If you want us to showcase your project in our portfolio or share designs with a specific party, we'll ask first.

We're not selling your data to marketers or random third parties. That's not our game.

We take security seriously - your architectural plans and personal details are protected with:

• Encrypted storage: All digital files are stored with encryption. No one's getting in without proper credentials.
• Secure communication: Our email and file transfer systems use industry-standard security protocols.
• Limited access: Only team members who need access to your info get it. We're not passing files around the office for fun.
• Regular backups: We back everything up so your project data doesn't vanish if something goes wrong.
• Physical security: Hard copies and storage devices are kept in secure locations at our Vancouver studio.

That said, no system's 100% bulletproof. We do our best, but we can't guarantee absolute security - that's just being honest.

It's your data, so you've got rights. Here's what you can do:

• Access: Want to see what info we have on you? Just ask. We'll send you a copy.
• Correction: If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it.
• Deletion: Want us to delete your data? We'll do it, though we might need to keep some stuff for legal reasons (like contract records).
• Opt-out: Don't want our newsletters or updates? Hit that unsubscribe button or tell us directly.
• Data portability: Need your project files in a specific format? We can work that out.

Under Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA), you've got the right to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner if you think we've messed up. But hopefully it won't come to that - reach out to us first and we'll sort it out.

Our website uses cookies - those little text files that help us understand how people use the site. Nothing creepy, just stuff like:

• Essential cookies: Keep the site running properly and remember your preferences.
• Analytics: Tell us which pages get visited most, how long people stick around. Helps us make the site better.
• No advertising tracking: We're not using your browsing to serve you ads across the internet. That's not our style.

Most browsers let you control cookies through their settings. You can block 'em if you want, though some parts of the site might not work as smoothly.

We don't hoard data forever. Here's our general approach:

• Active projects: We keep everything current and accessible throughout the project duration.
• Completed projects: Architectural records typically stick around for 7-10 years. It's partly legal requirement, partly practical - sometimes issues come up years later.
• Inquiries that didn't pan out: If you reached out but didn't move forward with a project, we'll keep your initial contact info for a couple years in case you come back.
• Marketing contacts: If you subscribed to updates, we'll keep your email until you unsubscribe.

Once the retention period's up and there's no legal reason to keep stuff, we delete it properly.

Our website might link out to other sites - suppliers, sustainability resources, project inspiration, whatever. Once you click through to their site, their privacy policy takes over, not ours. We can't control what they do with your data, so check their policies if you're concerned.

We might update this privacy policy from time to time - new laws come out, our practices evolve, technology changes. When we make significant changes, we'll post the new version here and update the date at the top. If you're an active client, we'll probably shoot you an email too.

For minor tweaks, we'll just update the page. It's worth checking back occasionally if you're curious about how we handle things.

If something in this policy doesn't make sense, or you've got questions about how we're handling your info, just reach out. We'd rather have a conversation than leave you wondering.

We're real people running a design studio, not some faceless corporation. If you've got concerns, let's talk it through.