Engineering consultancy The HIDI Group opens Ottawa office

The HIDI Group, a Toronto-headquartered engineering consulting firm, has opened a new location in Ottawa. The office will be led by company veteran Ahmad Shakil.

Founded in 1975, HIDI delivers an array of building engineering consulting services, with offerings across mechanical, electrical, plumbing, telecommunications, audiovisual, security, lighting, energy services and commissioning consulting.

The firm supports a diverse range of industries across the globe in creating safer and more efficient buildings. Some of HIDI’s recent project work includes the Air Canada Headquarters, Trillium Health and Joseph Brant Hospital's pandemic response units, and the Jaddaf Rotana Hotel in Dubai.

The company has more than 200 employees across offices in Toronto, Calgary, and Dubai.

HIDI has now announced its expansion into the National Capital Region with a new Ottawa office at 1730 St. Laurent Boulevard. The new office will enable the company to better service new and existing clients in the region.

The Ottawa location will be led by Ahmad Shakil, a principal at HIDI. Shakil has more than 30 years of industry experience, with 6 years in the Canadian market and 23 in the United Arab Emirates. He has deep expertise in design and site supervision for HVAC, drainage, fire protection, and water.

Shakil joined HIDI’s Dubai office in 2002, having previously spent 17 years working in the building services industry in India and Dubai as a contractor, designer, and project manager. Prior to joining HIDI, he was head of the mechanical engineering department in the Dubai office of UK-based consultancy W.S. Atkins.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.