Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 2024

Look, we get it - nobody actually enjoys reading privacy policies. But since we're asking you to trust us with your personal info and potentially sensitive project details, we figured we owe you some straight talk about what we do with it all.

At Raven Thryalquinth Architecture, we take your privacy seriously. Whether you're reaching out for a consultation, working with us on a project, or just browsing our portfolio, we're committed to protecting your personal information. This policy lays out what we collect, why we collect it, and what we do with it.

We operate under Canadian privacy laws, including PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act), and we do our best to keep everything transparent and above board.

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

Contact Information

The basics - your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address. We need this stuff to actually communicate with you and send you proposals, contracts, and project updates.

Project-Related Information

When you're working with us on a project, we'll collect details about your property, design preferences, budget constraints, timeline expectations, and any other info that helps us create something amazing for you. This might include property surveys, site photos, existing building plans, or even your Pinterest boards if that's how you roll.

Financial Information

We collect payment details and billing information to process invoices and payments. We don't store full credit card numbers on our systems - that's handled through secure third-party payment processors.

Website Usage Data

Like most websites, we collect some technical info when you visit our site - things like your IP address, browser type, pages you visit, and how long you stick around. Nothing creepy, just standard website analytics stuff.

We're not in the business of collecting data just for the sake of it. Here's what we actually do with your info:

• Project Delivery: Obviously, we use your information to design, plan, and execute your architectural projects. Can't really do our job without it.
• Communication: We'll reach out to you about your project, send updates, answer questions, and generally keep you in the loop. Sometimes we might also send you info about our services that we think you'd find relevant.
• Legal Compliance: We need to keep certain records for regulatory purposes, building permits, and professional liability requirements. It's not the fun part of architecture, but it's necessary.
• Improving Our Services: We analyze how people use our website and interact with our studio to make things better. Nothing invasive - just trying to improve the experience.
• Marketing: With your permission, we might feature your completed project in our portfolio or use anonymized case studies. We'll always ask first, and you can totally say no.

We're not selling your data to random companies or spamming you with junk. But there are some situations where we need to share information:

Project Partners

Architecture is collaborative work. We might share relevant info with structural engineers, contractors, landscape architects, interior designers, and other consultants working on your project. Everyone we work with is bound by confidentiality agreements.

Service Providers

We use various tools and services to run our business - cloud storage, project management software, accounting systems, email platforms. These providers only get access to the information they need to do their job, and they're contractually obligated to keep it secure.

Legal Requirements

If we're legally required to disclose information (like in response to a court order or regulatory inquiry), we'll do so. We're not looking to fight city hall on your behalf, but we'll keep disclosures to the minimum required.

Building Authorities

We submit plans and documentation to municipal authorities, building departments, and other regulatory bodies as part of the permitting process. That's just how the construction approval process works in Canada.

Here's something specific to architectural practices - we keep project files for a long time. Like, potentially decades. This isn't us being hoarders; it's actually a professional requirement.

We maintain archives of drawings, specifications, correspondence, and project documentation for legal and professional liability reasons. If questions come up years down the road about how something was designed or what was specified, we need those records.

These archives are stored securely, both digitally and in physical form. Access is restricted to authorized personnel, and we follow strict retention policies based on professional standards and legal requirements.

Our website uses cookies - those little text files that websites store on your device. We use them for:

• Essential Functions: Keeping you logged in if you access our client portal, remembering your preferences, basic stuff like that.
• Analytics: Understanding how people use our site so we can make it better. We use tools like Google Analytics for this.
• Performance: Helping our website load faster and work more smoothly.

You can disable cookies in your browser settings if you want, though it might affect how some parts of the site work. Most modern browsers let you control cookie preferences pretty easily.

We take data security seriously. Our measures include:

• Encrypted data transmission (that's what the little padlock in your browser means)
• Secure cloud storage with reputable Canadian and international providers
• Regular backups of project files and client data
• Access controls - only team members who need specific information get access to it
• Secure physical storage for hard copy documents at our Vancouver office
• Regular security audits and updates to our systems

That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. We do our best to protect your information, but we can't guarantee absolute security. If we ever experience a data breach that affects your information, we'll let you know promptly and work with you to minimize any potential impact.

Under Canadian privacy law, you've got some important rights when it comes to your personal information:

Access Your Information

You can ask to see what personal information we have about you. We'll provide it within a reasonable timeframe, usually within 30 days.

Correct Your Information

If something we have on file is wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it. Accurate information is important for both of us.

Withdraw Consent

If you've agreed to receive marketing emails or have your project featured in our portfolio, you can change your mind anytime. Just shoot us an email or click the unsubscribe link.

Request Deletion

You can ask us to delete your personal information, with some limitations. If we're legally required to keep certain records (like project files for liability purposes), we'll explain why we can't delete everything immediately.

File a Complaint

If you think we've mishandled your personal information, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. We'd prefer you reach out to us first so we can try to resolve any issues directly.

If you've got questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your information, don't hesitate to reach out. We're happy to explain things in more detail or address any concerns you might have.