GROUP DESIGN BUILD INC

Group Design Build Inc is a Newton, Massachusetts architect-led design-build firm founded by Marcelo Tagore (also credited as Tagore Hernandez), specializing in high-performance construction: Passive House, net-zero and net-positive buildings, deep energy retrofits, and historic and contemporary residential and small multifamily projects (up to 30 units) across Greater Boston. The firm's portfolio includes several published, detailed projects in Somerville, Cambridge, Newton, Belmont, and Boston, with project costs generally running $400-$1,200 per square foot. Two 2017 reviews from customers describe clear communication and a smooth renovation experience, and the firm's design-build model -- combining architecture and construction under one team -- is central to its self-described approach. Worth flagging directly: a third review counted toward the platform's 4.8-star rating is posted under the name "Tagore H.," matching the founder's own name, so its independence from the business is unclear. All of the written reviews on file date to 2017. A more significant concern: Massachusetts state records show the firm's Home Improvement Contractor license (#192569) is currently inactive, having expired in February 2025 -- worth asking about directly before signing a contract, since an active license is required for residential contracting work in Massachusetts. The firm's own website lists a Newton, MA office, while two directories still show an older Somerville address, suggesting information across sources is not fully up to date. For a homeowner considering a high-performance or Passive House project in the Greater Boston area, Group Design Build's design and technical expertise appears well-documented through its own detailed project write-ups, but the current license status and the age and thinness of the independent review record are both worth confirming directly with the firm before hiring.