Experts in the field

KWH is founded on the construction engineering expertise provided by our present day subsidiary, Somerset Engineering.

Firth of Forth Bridge 1970

The Beginnings……

Back in the late 1960’s, two young steel designers from the U.K., were both employed by one of the largest steel companies in the country, Redpath Dorman Long. Peter Saunderson in their Bedford office and Jeff Mullins in their Southampton office of a subsidiary. In the early 1970’s they both emigrated to Canada and by coincidence they eventually meet and work side by side in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Harbour Centre Vancouver 1976

They both work in the engineering office of the second largest steel company of Canada, Canron Western Bridge Division. Together they were engaged in the construction engineering for the firm building bridges, dams, power houses, dockside installations and mine sites etc.

In 1981, Peter decided to branch out on his own. With the support of Jeff, Peter retained, among other new clients, Canron’s construction engineering work. The new company was named Somerset Engineering Ltd, one of the first engineering companies in North America, solely dedicated to Construction Engineering.

Alex Fraser Bridge Tower Top 1985

In 1983 Somerset was retained by PCL to engineer the erection scheme for what was then the longest cable stayed bridge in the world, The Alex Fraser Bridge. 6 months later in 1984, Jeff left Canron and joined Peter to also engineer the erection components required for the bridge. The superstructure was completed in 18 months and was a huge success for PCL. Jeff became a 50% partner of Somerset. On the strength of this success, PCL expanded into Heavy Civil Construction. PCL and Somerset worked closely together for the next few years expanding this new division.

Eventually the word spread and more general contractors engaged Somerset Engineering for preconstruction estimates, construction engineering schemes and detailing and site engineering supervision. It was suggested by one of our clients that we should take on the erection services ourselves. So, in 1989 KWH Constructors Ltd was incorporated. Somerset Engineering carried on performing construction engineering throughout North America for third party contractors but also supported the parent company, KWH.

Over time KWH Constructors Ltd has provided expert, safe and highly technical installation services in Canada and the United States, with other opportunities overseas. Our first U.S, office was opened in Kirkland, Washington in 1992 and presently we are situated in Issaquah, Washington.

With over 37 years of experience, KWH has grown in strength and reputation within Canada and the U.S. to become a leader in challenging and technical erection projects. Both original partners have over 50 years of direct, hands-on construction experience. In 2018, Cam Smith became a senior partner to lead operations going forward. From our structural engineers to our construction superintendents and field supervisors, the KWH team knows steel and precast erection from start to finish. We are an engineered, AISC certified erector and installer of bridges, machinery, heavy equipment and complex steel and precast structures.