Privacy Policy

Look, We're Pretty Straightforward About This

Running an architecture studio means we work with people's dreams, their spaces, and yeah—their information. We don't take that lightly. This policy breaks down how we handle your data when you reach out to us or use our website. No corporate jargon, just the real deal about what we do with your info.

What Info We Actually Collect

When you contact us or work with us, we'll typically gather:

• Basic contact stuff - your name, email, phone number. Pretty standard when you're trying to build something together.
• Project details - what you're hoping to create, site info, budget ranges. Can't design a sustainable timber structure without knowing what you're after.
• Property information - addresses, lot dimensions, existing conditions. We're architects, not psychics—we need the practical stuff.
• Technical bits - when you visit our site, we see your IP address, browser type, pages you check out. Helps us keep things running smooth.

How We Use Your Information

We're not selling your data or doing anything weird with it. Here's what actually happens:

• Project work - designing your space, getting permits, coordinating with builders and consultants
• Communication - answering your questions, sending project updates, the occasional "hey, check this timber detail out"
• Legal stuff - contracts, certifications, building code requirements. Part of keeping everything above board.
• Making our site better - understanding what people look for helps us improve the experience

Who Gets to See This Stuff

We keep your info pretty close to the chest, but sometimes we've gotta share it:

• Project partners - engineers, contractors, consultants we work with on your build. They need relevant details to do their job right.
• Government folks - municipalities, building departments. When we're pulling permits or getting approvals, they need certain info.
• Service providers - our email hosting, cloud storage, that sort of thing. They're bound by their own privacy rules.
• Legal requirements - if the law says we have to share something, we will. Doesn't happen often, but transparency matters.

We'll never sell your personal information to marketing companies or random third parties. That's not how we operate.

Cookies & Website Tracking

Our website uses cookies—not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately. These little files help the site remember you and work better. Most are pretty basic:

• Session cookies that keep you logged in if you're using our client portal
• Analytics cookies so we can see which pages people actually read
• Preference cookies that remember your settings

You can disable cookies in your browser settings if that's your thing, though some features might not work as smoothly.

How Long We Keep Your Data

We're not hoarders, but we can't delete everything immediately either. Generally:

• Active projects - we keep all info for the duration of design and construction
• Completed projects - architectural records stick around for 7 years minimum. That's partly legal requirement, partly so we can reference details if issues come up.
• Casual inquiries - if you reached out but didn't move forward, we'll typically keep that for a year or so, then clear it out

Canadian law and professional architectural standards guide most of our retention periods.

Your Rights & Choices

It's your information, and you've got options:

• Access - wanna know what we have on file? Just ask.
• Correction - if something's wrong or outdated, we'll fix it
• Deletion - once legal retention periods are up, you can request we delete your data
• Objection - if you're not cool with how we're using your info (within legal bounds), let's talk about it
• Portability - you can get a copy of your data in a usable format

Shoot us an email at studio@tempestthorn.info or call (604) 555-0147 to exercise any of these rights.

Security Measures

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from unauthorized access or disclosure. Our systems use encryption, secure servers, and access controls. That said, no online system is 100% bulletproof. We do our best, stay current with security practices, and address any vulnerabilities quickly if they pop up.

Third-Party Links

Sometimes we link to other websites—manufacturer specs, green building resources, that kind of thing. Once you click over to those sites, this privacy policy doesn't apply anymore. They've got their own rules, so check 'em out if you're concerned.

Changes to This Policy

We might update this policy occasionally—new regulations, changes in how we operate, that sort of thing. When we make significant changes, we'll post the updated version here with a new date at the top. If you're an active client, we'll probably shoot you an email too.

Kids' Privacy

Our services aren't directed at anyone under 18. We don't knowingly collect information from minors. If you're a parent and think we might have your kid's info somehow, let us know and we'll delete it.

Questions or Concerns?

If something in here doesn't make sense, or you've got concerns about how we're handling your information, reach out. We're real people running a studio in Vancouver, and we're happy to talk through any privacy questions.

Governing Law

This privacy policy is governed by Canadian privacy legislation, including PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) and British Columbia's privacy laws. If there's ever a dispute, it'll be handled under BC jurisdiction.