1) Information We Collect

A. Information you provide

We collect information you choose to provide, including:

• Account information: email address, name (optional), password or authentication token (if using passwordless / SSO), and account preferences.
• Profile information (for firms): firm name, team members, biography, website links, locations, specialties, and other profile details.
• Content you submit (for firms or contributors): project information (titles, descriptions, locations at a city/region level), and project photography (including photographer credit and related metadata you provide).
• Favorites, follows, and folders: projects you favorite, firms you follow, and any folders/collections you create and organize.
• Communications: messages you send us, and any inquiry or contact details you submit to reach a firm (e.g., name, email, phone, project notes, budget/timeline ranges if included).

B. Information collected automatically

When you use the Service, we may automatically collect:

• Log and device data: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referral URLs, pages viewed, and timestamps.
• Usage data: interactions with the Service such as following a firm, favoriting a project, creating folders, viewing projects, clicking “contact,” and notification preference changes.
• Cookies and similar technologies: to keep you logged in, remember preferences, and understand site performance and usage trends (see Section 6).

C. Information from third parties

Depending on how you use the Service, we may receive limited information from third parties:

• Authentication providers (if you use Google sign-in or similar): basic account identifiers like your email and name, per the provider and your settings.
• Service providers (analytics, email delivery, hosting): technical signals needed to operate the Service.

2) How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and operate the Service: create and manage accounts, display firm and project pages, show your Following feed, favorites, and folders, and enable core site functionality.
• Personalize your experience: show updated projects from firms you follow, maintain your saved/favorited projects and collections, and remember your preferences.
• Send notifications and service messages: project alerts / updates you subscribe to; account and security messages (e.g., verification, passwordless login links, password resets, suspicious login alerts, changes to Terms/Privacy).
• Route inquiries and lead requests: when you choose to contact a firm through the Service, we use your submitted information to deliver your message to that firm.
• Improve and maintain the Service: analyze usage trends, troubleshoot issues, develop new features, and measure performance.
• Safety and integrity: prevent fraud, abuse, spam, scraping, and unauthorized access; enforce our Terms; protect rights and safety.
• Legal compliance: comply with legal obligations, respond to lawful requests, and resolve disputes.

3) Notifications, Email Preferences, and Account Messaging

A. Notifications you opt into

If you subscribe to Project Alerts or other updates, we collect your email address and preferences (for example: followed firms, followed cities, or featured updates) to send you the notifications you requested.

You can manage notification settings in your account (where available) and unsubscribe from marketing-style emails at any time via the unsubscribe link in the email.

B. Service and security messages (even if you opt out of marketing)

Some messages are important for operating your account and the Service (e.g., login links, security alerts, legal updates). You may not be able to opt out of these without closing your account.

4) How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information in these situations:

A. With firms you contact

If you use the Service to contact a firm, we share the information you submit (such as your name, email address, phone number if provided, and your message) with that firm so they can respond. Firms are independent third parties, and their use of your information is governed by their own practices.

B. With service providers

We use trusted vendors to operate the Service (e.g., website hosting, image storage/CDN, email delivery, analytics, error monitoring). They may process information on our behalf only to provide services to us and under contractual restrictions.

C. For legal and safety reasons

We may disclose information if we believe it is reasonably necessary to:

• comply with applicable law, regulation, or legal process;
• enforce our Terms;
• protect against fraud, abuse, or security threats;
• protect the rights, property, and safety of Architects List, our users, or others.

D. Business transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to appropriate confidentiality protections.

5) Public Information on the Service

Some information may be publicly visible, including:

• firm profile details and links;
• project pages and associated credits/attributions displayed on the site;
• public-facing content posted by firms.

Your favorites, follows, folders, and feed are intended to be private by default unless the Service clearly indicates otherwise.

6) Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• keep you signed in and maintain sessions;
• remember preferences;
• understand usage and improve performance;
• help protect against abuse and automated traffic.

You can typically control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect site functionality (like login persistence or preferences).

7) Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to:

• provide the Service and maintain your account;
• comply with legal obligations;
• resolve disputes and enforce agreements;
• maintain backups and security logs for a reasonable period.

You may request deletion of your account information (see Section 9). Some information may remain in backups for a limited time or be retained where required by law.

8) Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards to protect information. However, no system can be guaranteed 100% secure. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and for activity that occurs under your account.

9) Your Choices and Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to:

• access information we hold about you;
• correct inaccurate information;
• delete certain information;
• opt out of certain processing (for example, marketing emails or certain cookie-based analytics where applicable).

You can also:

• manage email subscriptions through unsubscribe links;
• adjust notification settings in your account (where available).

To make a request, contact us at mail@architectslist.com. We may need to verify your request.

10) Children's Privacy

Architects List is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us at mail@architectslist.com.

11) International Users

If you access the Service from outside the United States, you understand that information may be processed and stored in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

12) Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time by posting the updated version on this page and updating the Effective Date. Your continued use of the Service after changes means you acknowledge the updated policy.

13) Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or privacy practices, contact: mail@architectslist.com