Privacy Policy

We take your privacy seriously - here's how we handle your info

Last updated: January 2024

Introduction

Look, we get it - privacy policies aren't exactly exciting reading material. But here at Luminar Quinthos Architecture, we've been working with clients for years, and trust is everything in our business. When you're sharing details about your dream home or commercial project, you need to know that info's in good hands.

This policy explains what we collect, why we need it, and how we keep it safe. We've tried to keep the legal jargon to a minimum, but there are some parts where we gotta be specific. Bear with us.

By using our website or working with us, you're agreeing to what's laid out here. If something doesn't sit right with you, definitely reach out - we're always happy to chat about it.

Information We Collect

Personal Details You Give Us

When you fill out a contact form, request a consultation, or send us an email, we collect stuff like:

  • Your name and how you prefer to be addressed
  • Email address and phone number
  • Mailing address (especially if we're gonna visit a project site)
  • Company name if you're reaching out for commercial work
  • Project details, budget ranges, timelines - the nuts and bolts
  • Property information and site specifications

Stuff That Gets Collected Automatically

Like most websites these days, ours picks up some technical info when you browse around:

  • IP address and general location (city-level, not your exact address)
  • Browser type and device you're using
  • Which pages you visit and how long you hang out on them
  • Where you came from (like if you clicked a link from another site)
  • Date and time stamps of your visits

Project-Related Information

When we're actively working together, we'll also handle:

  • Photos and videos of existing structures or sites
  • Property surveys, permits, and municipal documents
  • Financial information related to project budgets and payments
  • Communications about design preferences and requirements
  • Contractor and consultant information for coordinated projects

How We Use Your Information

We're not in the business of hoarding data for no reason. Here's what we actually do with it:

Service Delivery

Getting back to your inquiries, scheduling site visits, preparing proposals, creating those 3D renderings you asked for, managing your project from concept through completion - basically, doing the work you hired us to do.

Communication

Sending project updates, answering your questions, sharing design revisions, discussing budget considerations. We might also send occasional emails about our services or industry insights, but you can opt out of those anytime.

Legal & Compliance Stuff

Meeting our obligations under Canadian law and architectural industry regulations. Keeping records for the required retention periods. Protecting both your interests and ours if any disputes come up.

Improving Our Services

Understanding which services folks are most interested in, what pages on our site get the most traffic, where we can streamline our processes. It helps us serve you better.

Sharing & Disclosure

We're not selling your info to random companies or spamming you with junk. Period. But there are a few situations where we might need to share certain details:

Project Collaborators

When we're working on your project, we sometimes need to loop in structural engineers, contractors, interior designers, or municipal planning departments. We only share what's necessary for them to do their part.

Service Providers

We use certain third-party services to run our business - things like cloud storage for project files, email platforms for communication, accounting software for invoicing. These companies are bound by strict confidentiality agreements.

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'll also protect our legal rights if needed, though honestly, in all our years of practice, this has never come up.

Portfolio & Marketing

With your explicit permission, we might feature completed projects in our portfolio. We'll always ask first and respect your wishes if you'd prefer to keep things private. Some clients love the exposure, others prefer discretion - we get it either way.

Data Security

We take security seriously because your trust matters. Here's what we're doing to keep your information safe:

  • All data transmission on our site uses SSL encryption (that's the little lock icon in your browser)
  • Our servers are hosted with reputable Canadian providers who maintain high security standards
  • Access to client information is limited to team members who actually need it for your project
  • We use password protection and two-factor authentication on all our systems
  • Regular backups ensure we won't lose your project files
  • Physical documents are kept in locked cabinets in our secured office

That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. We do our absolute best, but if you're sharing sensitive information, it's worth understanding that some risk always exists online. If something makes you uncomfortable, just give us a call instead.

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Yeah, we use cookies - not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately. These are small files that help our website remember you and work properly.

Essential Cookies

These keep the site functioning. Things like remembering what language you prefer or keeping you logged into secure areas. Can't really turn these off without breaking stuff.

Analytics Cookies

We use these to understand how people use our site - which pages are popular, where folks are getting stuck, that sort of thing. It's all anonymous and helps us make improvements. You can disable these in your browser settings if you want.

Managing Your Preferences

Most browsers let you control cookies through their settings. You can block them, delete them, or get notified when new ones are set. Just keep in mind that blocking all cookies might make some parts of the site not work as smoothly.

Your Rights & Choices

It's your information, and you've got rights. Under Canadian privacy laws (including PIPEDA), here's what you can do:

Access Your Data

Ask us what information we have about you. We'll provide a copy within a reasonable timeframe.

Correct Mistakes

If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it.

Delete Your Info

Request deletion, though we might need to keep some records for legal or professional liability reasons.

Opt Out

Unsubscribe from marketing emails anytime. There's always an unsubscribe link at the bottom.

To exercise any of these rights, just shoot us an email at contact@luminarquinthos.info or give us a call at (416) 555-0847. We'll get back to you promptly.

How Long We Keep Your Information

We don't hang onto your information forever, but architecture isn't like buying a coffee - projects span years, and legal requirements mean we need to keep certain records.

  • Active projects: We keep everything current until the project wraps up
  • Completed projects: Professional standards require us to maintain records for at least 7 years after project completion
  • General inquiries: If you reached out but didn't move forward, we'll keep basic contact info for about 2 years in case you circle back
  • Marketing contacts: Until you ask to be removed from our list
  • Financial records: Canadian tax law requires 7 years of retention

After these periods, we securely delete or destroy the information unless there's a specific legal reason to keep it longer.

Third-Party Links

Our website might include links to manufacturers, suppliers, or industry resources. Once you click those links and leave our site, we can't control what happens with your information on those other sites. We recommend checking their privacy policies too - every company does things differently.

We try to only link to reputable organizations, but can't be responsible for their practices.

Changes to This Policy

Technology changes, laws evolve, and we might need to update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll update the date at the top and post the new version here. For significant changes, we'll send an email to our active clients.

It's worth checking back occasionally, especially if it's been a while since you last looked. We'll never make changes that reduce your rights under existing agreements without your consent.

Questions? Let's Talk

If you've got questions, concerns, or just want to clarify something about how we handle your information, we're here. Seriously - don't hesitate to reach out.

Contact Information

Email: contact@luminarquinthos.info

Phone: (416) 555-0847

Office Address

245 Queen Street West, Suite 802
Toronto, ON M5V 1Z4
Canada

If you're not satisfied with our response to a privacy concern, you also have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

This privacy policy was last reviewed and updated in January 2024. We believe in transparency and protecting your rights - if there's anything unclear or you think we've missed something important, we genuinely want to hear about it.