Who We Are
Your Trusted Choice for Mechanical & Electrical Consulting Engineers.
Our Story
Founded over 65 years ago, GWAL is an award-winning mechanical and electrical engineering consulting firm serving a broad range of public and private sector clients. Our team consists of licensed personnel in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia. Officially incorporated in 1956 under the Ontario Charter, we now proudly operate as a division of Englobe. This partnership enhances our capabilities and resources, allowing us to better serve our clients while maintaining our established identity and commitment to excellence in engineering.
With more than 100 employees today, including Professional Engineers, Engineers-in-Training, Certified Engineering Technicians, Design & Draftspeople, and Finance & Administrative personnel, we have a diverse and skilled team. Our staff includes LEED® accredited professionals, and we have successfully completed numerous LEED® certified projects, including LEED® Gold certification (CI) for our own office space. Several team members are active in ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) and IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America), leaders in sustainable design education and practice.
Our well-established reputation as mechanical and electrical engineering experts, along with our many award-winning projects, underscores our commitment to providing consistent, dynamic, innovative, and sustainable solutions. We adhere to industry best practices while maintaining a strong focus on cost control and client satisfaction. Our design philosophy ensures that your mechanical and electrical systems exceed the energy and control requirements of the Model National Energy Code for Buildings and ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
The diversity of expertise within our team is one of our greatest assets. Our competitive advantage enables us to design and implement innovative mechanical and electrical systems for commercial, institutional, light industrial, and mixed-use residential and commercial buildings of all types and sizes, as well as engineering advocacy, expert testimony, sustainability, and specialized studies.
Our Community Commitments
At GWAL, we believe in the profound impact of giving back to our community. We recognize that helping others fosters compassion, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the challenges people face. It instills in us a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the blessings in our lives, highlighting the interconnectedness of all people.
One of our most cherished partnerships is with Minwaashin Lodge, a purpose-driven organization dedicated to offering vital programs and services to vulnerable women and children of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis descent, regardless of their status. Through our collaboration, we've developed tailor-made initiatives like Diaper Days and the Holiday Present Pile, addressing immediate needs and igniting a passion for making a difference. Additionally, we designed and sold an exclusive "Orange Shirt," with proceeds going directly towards their programs and initiatives.
Our dedication to making a positive impact doesn't stop there. We extend our support to various charitable endeavors, including the Ottawa Food Bank, where we have contributed to the most pressing needs of the program. Our annual Drive Against Hunger golf tournament plays a vital role in this effort, and we have recently begun volunteering for food sorting shifts at the warehouse. We proudly stand by the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and sponsor both Tiny Hearts Magazine and CHEO's Children's Safety Guide magazine, embracing our role in enhancing the well-being of young patients and their families. Beyond donations, we've also been privileged to lend our expertise in mechanical and electrical design for their facilities. We are also longstanding supporters of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
Additionally, we attend annual recreational sporting events such as the OSPE Sudbury Hockey Tournament, where our presence aids the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC), and HOPE Volleyball, an event that unites us in support of important causes within the Ottawa Area. We also champion local youth sports by sponsoring teams and empowering young athletes to achieve their dreams.
Our goal is to inspire positive change and encourage others to join us in making a meaningful difference in people's lives. Together, we strive to create a brighter future for all
Your Project Partner
By including you at all stages of the project, and leveraging each other’s strengths we are able to achieve exceptional results that will exceed your expectations.
We insist on open and transparent communication to ensure that your project achieves the end result you desire. We provide you with a custom-picked team of GWAL Professionals that will focus on you and your job’s requirements - from concept to completion. Our mechanical and electrical engineers work with you to design and build great projects that are energy efficient and sustainable.
For years, we have developed our reputation through award-winning projects. We engage the brightest and most innovative professionals who understand that your project is unique and deserves the utmost professionalism and skill.
Join our many satisfied clients and work with us on your next project that is energy efficient, easy to maintain, while meeting your requirements and staying on budget.
Sustainable Projects
In the conceptual stage of design, the environmental value of mechanical and electrical scopes is determined through a prioritization of sustainable solutions. Superior indoor air quality, a reduced carbon footprint, and improved water quality not only reduce operating and maintenance costs, but they also help future-proof infrastructure and improve tenant health. Prior to achieving these objectives, we will interview the operators of the building in order to learn about their preferences and goals. Next, we will propose design options that are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, including ventilation energy recovery utilizing an enthalpy wheel and/or reverse damper system, condensing boilers, low-temperature water heating, solar walls for ventilation, solar energy for domestic/heating water use, demand-controlled ventilation, ground-source heat pumps, LED lighting, daylight harvesting, low water fixtures, grey water usage for non-potable systems, high level of controllability, etc. We will also examine the suitability of various materials during the design process. Each material will be analyzed for its effects on global warming, acidification, human health, ozone depletion, smog, and fossil fuel consumption. In this way, we are able to select materials and options with the lowest environmental impact.
A cost-benefit analysis will be provided for each option, including construction and operating costs, energy usage, and environmental impacts. Options will be discussed in detail with the Clients/Users to select the most appropriate choices that meet the project objectives and fit within their budgets and schedules. A crucial element of this approach is considering the strength, durability, and lifespan of mechanical and electrical equipment in order to increase asset value and reduce operating costs. For a project to be successful, the durability and ease of replacing the product must be evaluated. Ultimately, ease of replacement or upgrading these devices will also have a direct impact on the environment and energy consumption. For example, a modular product is easier to replace or upgrade than a product that requires long-term shutdown for removal and reinstallation. Therefore, equipment will be chosen based on proven performance, operators' familiarity with the equipment, its maintenance capacities, and service providers' availability. Choosing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly systems will result in occupants experiencing a healthier indoor environment and overall improved quality of life.