Top GUNN

Celebrating 40 years, western Canada’s first VT consultancy has grown into one of nation’s largest.

Look around at the notable towers and landmarks in and around Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver, Canada, and chances are pretty good GUNN Consultants Inc. had a hand in designing or upgrading their vertical-transportation (VT) systems. That’s because the consultancy has grown from a staff of two in a one-room office in Vancouver to “an amazing team of more than 35 with large offices” in those three major cities, observes GUNN President and CEO Eric Peterson. To date, the company has been involved in more than 10,000 projects. Perusing GUNN’s impressive list of projects provides a glimpse into what’s keeping its growing ranks busy these days. These include the landmark 59-story, 729-ft-tall, Telus Sky in Calgary and the 515-ft, 53-story-tall  Vancouver House in Vancouver, both mixed-use buildings designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) for which GUNN oversaw the design of VT systems that include 16 passenger and one freight elevator and 17 passenger and two freight elevators, respectively. 

No job is too complex or simple for GUNN. In addition to the involved systems for the BIG-designed skyscrapers in Vancouver and Calgary, GUNN oversaw the modernization and fire alarm upgrade of four passenger elevators in a wing of the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel approximately 90 mi east of Calgary in the Canadian Rockies’ Banff National Park. The company says its goal is to “provide clients with turnkey solutions based on frequent and thorough communication.”

In the new-construction area, GUNN works on behalf of either the developer or architect to assist in the design, specification and construction administration of VT systems. Its team develops customized, practical VT designs using both in-house and commercially available software. GUNN observes its traffic studies and reports provide “clear, concise solutions that can be readily implemented into new and existing buildings.” These reports include critical coordination information for architectural, electrical, mechanical and structural players. 

From Humble Beginnings

The company then known as John W. Gunn Consultants Inc. was founded in Vancouver by its namesake engineer. The consulting firm specialized in elevators, escalators, moving walks and other forms of VT. In 1996, Gunn retired and sold the company to Greg Samuelson and Jim Shaw. A mechanical engineer, Samuelson worked for Dover, transitioning to consulting in the late 1980s. Shaw had a long career with Otis Canada, holding various positions including his final role with the company as an adjuster. 

Peterson, who graduated from Thunder Bay, Ontario-based Lakehead University with a degree in engineering in 1994, joined John W. Gunn Consultants in 1998. Peterson began his VT industry career as an elevator installer with Dover in 1991. Between 1994 and 1998, he held various mining consulting positions with engineering firms in the Vancouver area. Upon Samuelson’s and Shaw’s retirement in 2004, Peterson purchased the company. Other milestones followed, including: 

• Opening the Calgary office, headed by Peterson, in 2014
• Legally changing the company name to GUNN Consultants Inc. in 2019
• Sam Hamze, Andrew Wilson, Albert Ng and Jerry Chang joining Peterson as partners in 2020
• Expanding to Toronto in 2021
• In 2022, welcoming three EDM-As (Elevating Device Mechanic Class A) to the team: Chris Smiley, Doug Williams and Sam Robertson

Marking 40 Years

As it marks 40 years in 2023, Peterson says GUNN Consultants “continues to cultivate a robust and diverse team, expanding its reach outwards and upwards.” Peterson himself is celebrating 25 years with GUNN. Along the way, he has earned recognition from colleagues, customers and larger entities for his commitment to developing better elevator and engineering consulting practices and improving safety and training (ELEVATOR WORLD, June 2019).

At GUNN, Peterson developed programs for training, safety, technical specifications and quality control. He was presented the Lieutenant Governor Award for Excellence in Safety and Technical Training by independent oversight organization Technical Safety BC (TSBC) in 2019, and served as chair of TSBC’s Elevating Devices Technical Advisory Committee. It’s all part of a strong foundation laid by GUNN Consultants’ founder, Peterson says, continuing: 

“The same corporate fundamentals started by our founder John Gunn — good communication, a solutions-based approach and standing behind our word every day — are part of our DNA to this day.

“It is hard to believe that 2023 marks my 25-year anniversary at GUNN! Times flies, for sure. One moment you are a ‘young gun’ — new to the industry — and suddenly you’re the old guy in the room. I certainly value my role as mentor, every day trying to pass on ‘pearls of wisdom’ to our newer team members to help build their careers.” 

I am certain we will soon see expansion into a couple more key Canadian markets, followed by expansion into the U.S.

— GUNN Consultants President and CEO Eric Peterson

Together, GUNN employees provide a wealth of experience: more than 100 years’ to be exact. In addition to Peterson marking 25 years, several other employees recently marked milestones. They include Andrew Wilson with 40 years in the industry (including eight at GUNN), Chang with 10 years at GUNN, Accounting Coordinator Liberty Morell with 20 years at GUNN and Peterson’s Executive Assistant Abby Hildebrand with 10 years with the company.

Employees’ enthusiasm for their employer is clear. Chang says he respects that GUNN has “always championed change and is never afraid to branch out to deliver new services to our valuable clients.” He appreciates that Peterson allows employees to be entrepreneurs. 

Robertson, a 25-year VT industry veteran, mostly on the contractor side, describes joining GUNN as a turning point in his life. He says: 

“Leadership can be defined as the ability to inspire, motivate and guide individuals to a common goal. Leadership can be the sole reason a business thrives and is the main reason I chose GUNN. Prior to joining GUNN, I had several conversations with Eric. I already had my opinion of GUNN from years in the industry, and they had a great reputation in the market for providing a quality service and a team that was willing to work together for the common goal. As Eric and I got to know each other, I learned more about his leadership qualities and the culture he has developed at GUNN — a culture of collaboration, integrity and continuous learning.” 

Led by GUNN’s in-house code specialist and Safety Officer Hamze, training courses include entrapment; firefighter emergency response; codes; elevator education courses for architects, developers and property managers; and customized training. 

Future Aspirations

Peterson says GUNN plans to continue on its current path of development, maintaining smart and sustainable growth and building a talented team to ensure the company can continue to stand behind client commitments. Peterson says: 

“I am certain we will soon see expansion into a couple more key Canadian markets, followed by expansion into the U.S. Stay tuned! The backbone of this expansion is formed by our consistent, daily focus on communication, commitment and solutions.” 

References

[1] Cano, Paula. “BIG Releases First Photographs of The Vancouver House and Telus Sky in Canada,” ArchDaily, November 8, 2022. 

[2] “TK Elevator Canada Completes Installation of Fastest Elevators in Western Canada at Telus Sky in Calgary,” TKE press release, March 10, 2021. 

[3] “Vancouver House Lands Top CTBUH Award and More,” ELEVATOR WORLD, July 2021.