Privacy Policy

Depending on how you interact with us, we might collect different types of info:

• Contact Details: Name, email, phone number, mailing address - the usual stuff you'd share when reaching out about a project.
• Project Information: Property details, design preferences, budget ranges, timelines. Basically everything we need to understand what you're trying to build.
• Website Data: IP addresses, browser type, pages you visit, how long you hang around. Standard web analytics that help us improve the site.
• Correspondence: Emails, phone conversations, meeting notes - we keep records of our discussions so nothing falls through the cracks.
• Financial Info: Payment details, invoicing information when we're working together on a project.

We don't collect anything we don't actually need. If we're asking for it, there's a reason related to providing our services.

We're not selling your data or doing anything sketchy. Here's what we actually do with the information you share:

• Project Delivery: Designing your spaces, coordinating with contractors, managing timelines - you know, the actual architecture work.
• Communication: Keeping you updated on project progress, answering questions, scheduling meetings.
• Legal Compliance: Meeting professional standards, building codes, and regulatory requirements that come with being a licensed architecture firm in Canada.
• Improving Our Services: Understanding what works and what doesn't so we can get better at what we do.
• Administrative Purposes: Invoicing, contracts, maintaining project files - the paperwork side of things.

We'll occasionally send project updates or firm news, but we're not gonna spam you. You can opt out anytime.

Architecture isn't a solo sport - projects involve lots of people. Here's who might need access to your info:

• Project Partners: Engineers, contractors, consultants who're working on your project with us. They only get what they need to do their part.
• Service Providers: Cloud storage, accounting software, project management tools - the tech that keeps everything running smoothly.
• Legal & Regulatory Bodies: Building departments, professional associations, or courts if there's ever a legal requirement (rare, but possible).
• Professional Advisors: Our lawyers, accountants, insurance providers when necessary for business operations.

We don't sell or rent your information to third parties. Period. Anyone who gets access signs confidentiality agreements and follows similar privacy standards.

We take security seriously. Our approach includes:

• Encrypted Storage: Project files and client data are stored on secure, encrypted servers.
• Access Controls: Only team members who need specific information can access it. No free-for-all access to everything.
• Regular Backups: We back up data regularly so nothing gets lost if something goes wrong.
• Secure Communication: Our website uses SSL encryption, and we use secure file transfer methods for sensitive documents.
• Physical Security: Our office at 1425 West Georgia Street has controlled access and secure document storage.

That said, no system is 100% foolproof. We do our best, but if you're sharing something super sensitive, let's discuss the best way to handle it.

We keep information for as long as it's useful or required:

• Active Projects: All project data stays accessible throughout the design and construction phases.
• Completed Projects: We typically retain project files for 10-15 years. Architecture projects can have long-tail issues, and we need records for warranty, liability, and reference purposes.
• Financial Records: Kept for 7 years minimum to comply with Canadian tax regulations.
• Marketing Inquiries: If you reached out but didn't move forward, we'll keep your contact info for about 2 years in case you circle back.

After retention periods end, we securely delete or anonymize the data. If you want us to delete your info sooner, just ask - though there might be legal reasons we need to keep certain records.

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

• Access: Ask to see what information we have about you. We'll provide it in a readable format.
• Correction: If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it.
• Deletion: Request that we delete your information (subject to legal retention requirements).
• Objection: Object to certain uses of your data, like marketing communications.
• Portability: Get a copy of your data in a format you can use elsewhere.
• Withdrawal: If you've given consent for something, you can withdraw it anytime.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at studio@questhollowspire.info. We'll respond within 30 days.

Our website uses cookies - those little files that help websites remember you. Here's the breakdown:

• Essential Cookies: Needed for the site to function properly. Things like remembering you're logged in or maintaining your session.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how people use the site - which pages are popular, where folks are getting stuck, etc.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your choices like language settings or display preferences.

You can disable cookies through your browser settings, but it might make the site less functional. Most browsers let you control cookies pretty easily.

We don't use intrusive tracking or ad networks. We're more interested in making the site useful than in collecting every bit of data possible.

We're based in Vancouver, Canada, and we follow Canadian privacy laws (primarily PIPEDA - the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act).

Some of our service providers might be located outside Canada, including in the United States. When that happens, your information could be subject to foreign laws. We only work with providers who maintain strong privacy protections.

If you're located outside Canada and working with us, your information will be processed according to Canadian privacy standards, which are pretty robust.

We'll update this policy from time to time as our practices evolve or laws change. When we make significant changes, we'll let active clients know directly.

For everyone else, the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will change, and we'll post a notice on our homepage for a while.

We recommend checking back occasionally if you're curious, but we're not gonna make major changes without good reason. We're architects, not data brokers - our business model doesn't depend on exploiting your information.

If something in this policy isn't clear, or if you've got concerns about how we're handling your information, please reach out. We'd rather have a conversation than leave you worried.

If you're not satisfied with our response, you've got the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. But let's try to sort things out directly first.