The 5 Best Mechanical Engineering Firms in Ottawa
If your company has a project that requires a capable mechanical engineer, it’s important to find a good mechanical engineering firm. After all, engineering is a difficult course to master, so a trustworthy firm with a solid portfolio goes a long way.
In this article, we will show you the best mechanical engineering firms in Ottawa.
How much do mechanical engineering firms charge in Ottawa?
Below, you will find a price table with estimated rates for specific types of mechanical engineers. This should give you a clearer picture of what you might be spending when hiring one.
This other table below discusses specific mechanical engineering services and their average hourly price.
The Best Mechanical Engineering Firms in Ottawa
If you’re still having doubts, the criteria below helped us determine why these firms are the best in the city:
1. Quadrant Engineering Limited
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Price | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Services | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
| Portfolio | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
Thirty years of experience has definitely made Quadrant Engineering one of the best firms in the city. It offers expertise in mechanical and electrical engineering and even provides engineering solutions for plumbing and fire prevention.
For mechanical engineering, Quadrant specializes in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. If you have an upcoming project and need assistance on any of these, Quadrant Engineering is a good choice of a firm to start with.
It’s also a good thing that it serves areas even outside of Ottawa. This means that the firm has numerous engineers at its disposal and that it values each client’s project even if it means going to a slightly further location.
We are also fans of how Quadrant uses programs like AutoCAD, which is a design and drafting software that makes the creation of schematics and blueprints much easier and more accurate. It’s always good to see a firm that is updated when it comes to technology.
With an extensive portfolio of both residential and commercial projects, Quadrant really is an impressive firm. The only downside is rates and the fact that it has many clients with demands of their own.
If you can afford the firm’s business and are able to wait a bit before getting a response, Quadrant is for you.
Pros
- Portfolio is full of residential and commercial projects
- Uses high-end technology
- Uses sustainable mechanical systems
Cons
- Lots of clients, may take a while to respond
- Pricey
2. Goodkey, Weedmark & Associates Ltd.
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Price | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Portfolio | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
Goodkey, Weedmark & Associates Ltd or GWAL has been providing engineering services for residential and business clients for over 65 years. It’s one of the oldest firms on our list and is also one of the most experienced.
For mechanical engineering services, GWAL makes sure that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are done properly for any type of building.
It’s also fortunate that plumbing & utilities are also part of GWAL’s expertise. The engineers are trained every now and then, so they are updated on the new ins and outs of technology that concerns plumbing and utilities.
We are also impressed with the firm’s services for fire prevention. This is very important and should not be left out when you have an upcoming project because it concerns the safety of everyone in and out of your building.
We like that GWAL takes pride in being environmentally friendly and also in making sure that all the projects it’s in charge of are sustainable. The company aims for a ‘no waste’ construction to make sure that everything is properly used and in order.
Overall, the only downside with Goodkey, Weedmark & Associates Ltd is its price, which can be expensive for some. The large clientele can also be a problem if you’re in a rush.
Nevertheless, everything else is solid and we believe GWAL is one of the best options out there.
Pros
- Offers other engineering services
- Environmentally friendly
- Extensive portfolio
Cons
- Clientele is huge so it can take a while for the company to accept projects
Customer Reviews
Great to work with
“Steve Hamilton and Chris Leblanc were so great to work with on our mechanical project. Looking forward to working together again!” – David Merino
3. Keller Engineering
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Price | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
| Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Portfolio | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Keller Engineering is a very versatile company. It’s also huge and has numerous employees, all trained regularly to make sure they do their jobs properly.
The firm provides engineering services for both residential and commercial clients. It also has a special unit that is designed to focus more on condominium-type projects.
So if your project involves something similar, this might be the perfect firm for you.
When it comes to mechanical engineering, the company provides numerous services such as building performance modeling, mechanical systems design, tenant fit-ups, and energy rebate applications and audits.
These services will help maximize the efficiency of your project. Keller also covers HVAC, more commonly known as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
We like Keller’s versatility not just in mechanical engineering but also in other branches of the field. The company also has experts in electrical engineering, structural engineering, and more.
If you have a humongous project on the way that needs more than just mechanical engineering expertise, this firm is definitely the right one to hire.
The only downside is Keller’s Ottawa branch, which is inside a mall. Hence, it may be harder to find and less accessible.
Overall, this company is definitely a good one and should be on your list as well.
Pros
- Offers multiple engineering services
- Extensive portfolio
- Good pricing
Cons
- Located in a mall, may be hard to find
Customer Reviews
Great firm
“Keller Engineering is a great Engineering firm to work with as they have a great team dynamic. My experience with them goes back more than 20 years. They are quick to respond to issues and provide solutions. They have very competent staff and a great executive team that supports them. I would not hesitate to recommend them.” – Debbie Wilson
Helped us a lot
“Keller Engineering has helped our clients ensure their investments are being looked after and properly budgeted for. The entire team at Keller is always prepared to go the extra mile for us in order to ensure complete satisfaction with every project they work on. The firms specific knowledge of condominium construction gives us piece of mind that our concerns are being handled by those who are experienced and have worked on similar projects before. All in all Keller Engineering is more than qualified to help deliver quality engineering services and we would have no problem referring them!” – Cindy Johnson
4. J.L. Richards & Associates Limited
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Price | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Portfolio | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Established in 1955, J.L. Richards & Associates Limited is another one of the older companies on our list.
Obviously, with age comes wisdom. So one of the reasons we’ve chosen this firm to be on our list is its extensive portfolio.
The firm has worked on engineering many different types of buildings, such as water treatment plants, road tunnels, industrial buildings, and more. Other than mechanical engineering, the company also provides assistance in architecture.
If you are still in your project’s planning stage, this firm can also help you with project management. We really appreciate this because many clients are still unsure of how to go about their projects, so this is a very good service to offer.
Another good thing about JL Richards & Associates is its team-based style of working. When you hire the firm, it’s not just going to give you one expert, but a dozen that will help you realize your project from the ground up.
With that said, the only con we found is its pricey services. It’s a firm that caters more to commercial and government projects, so it’s a bit more expensive.
If you can afford this company, you shouldn’t have a problem because this is definitely one of the best in Ottawa.
Pros
- Offers project management services as well
- Tackles different engineering specialties
- Experienced firm
Cons
- Pricey
Customer Reviews
Highly recommended
“Fantastic work and dedication, highly recommended!” – M. A.
5. Design 1st
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Price | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Portfolio | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
Design 1st has over 25 years of experience in the design and mechanical engineering industry. The firm is known for working with clients during the designing process until the actual construction.
This type of service is very useful, especially for clients who are on their first-ever project. Designing is an integral part of the process, and with the firm’s help, it should be easier.
Because of the design-focused services, we’re glad to say that Design 1st’s customer service is to be congratulated. It’s very easy to reach the company and get an estimate because it doesn’t take its team much time to respond.
The firm is also very versatile, providing services even outside of mechanical engineering. If you have a building project that you’re working on, you can definitely count on Design 1st to help you finish the project all the way through.
For the company’s downsides, we’ve noticed that some of its services’ starting prices are higher than usual. This could be because it aims to work on the whole project, from the design stage until the construction.
With that said, it’s safe to say that this firm is definitely a solid choice for any kind of project — as long as you have the budget.
Pros
- Has virtual simulations available
- Specializes in reverse engineering products
- 25 years of experience
- Responsive team
Cons
- Starting price for services can be expensive
Customer Reviews
They’re pros
“They are pros in hardware product development – especially complex Internet of Things products. They bring an unmatched combination of design creativity and deep engineering prowess. They are responsive, detail-oriented, and bring a wealth of experience to the table. I recommend them highly.” – Daniel Price
Guided me step by step
“I was getting frustrated with the world of can’t that I was experiencing as I tried to get the PowerPress concept designed. I had a great idea but finding a product design team who really understood the mechanics of the design was proving difficult. Design 1st was recommended to me and although I was doubtful given my previous experiences with other design firms, I did contact them. After the first meeting, I felt so lucky that I had found the team who would help me bring this leading edge fitness technology to the world. They really got it, guided me through every step and we were on our way to making it a reality.” – Guy Murray
FAQs about Mechanical Engineering
That concludes our list of the best mechanical engineering firms in the city. Hopefully, this helps you with the kind of project you’re working on.
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