# MacArthur Construction Company

**Trade:** General Contractor / Remodeling · **Phone:** (617) 864-2234 · **Website:** https://www.maccoco.com/ · **Languages:** English

**Rating: 3.6/5** (medium confidence) — from 7 reviews across 5 sources.
100% of sentiment-scored reviews read net-positive. Last 6 months: 0 reviews, 0 negative.

## The honest read

MacArthur Construction Company is a Cambridge, MA design-build firm that specializes in modern, energy-efficient New England homes — new construction, additions and renovations — under founder Duncan MacArthur, who says on the company's site that it has been building and renovating homes since 1985.

The written record here runs deep and consistently positive: Houzz shows a 5.0-star average across seven reviews stretching from 2014 to 2023, several from architects who have collaborated with the firm on more than a dozen projects and describe Duncan MacArthur as "a master in his craft" with a genuine commitment to sustainable design. Homeowners echo the same themes — in a 2016 review, one client described how the team handled surprises behind an old house's walls without losing the schedule, and another said they'd hired the firm twice, once for their house and again for a home office, calling the work "amazingly wonderful" both times.

The company backs that record with real credentials: a LEED AP Homes designation and PassiveHaus listing on Houzz, and BuildZoom lists active Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor and Construction Supervisor licenses for the company (a few older, inactive licenses from past registrations also show up — ordinary churn, not a red flag). Its BBB profile carries an A+ rating, though the business itself is not BBB-accredited. A 2013 Boston Magazine piece on one of its Grove Street projects, an energy-efficient renovation, gives an outside, journalistic look at the same craftsmanship the reviews describe.

Between BuildZoom's permit records and Houzz's project gallery, the company shows a visible footprint of more than 25 completed jobs around Cambridge and nearby towns — full house rebuilds, additions and gut renovations — consistent with a firm that takes on substantial custom projects rather than small repairs.

One quirk worth flagging: a 2023 Houzz review thanking "McCarter construction" for paint and trim work appears on this profile. It may be a simple misspelling of MacArthur, or a mismatched review; either way, it's the one piece of the record that doesn't clearly match the rest.

For a homeowner planning a serious renovation or new build in the Cambridge area — especially one with an eye toward energy efficiency and design — this is a well-documented, long-running firm with the reviews and credentials to back it up.

**Strengths:**
- Perfect review record — 5.0★ across 7 Houzz reviews, 2014-2023
- Architect-vouched craftsmanship — repeat collaborators call the work outstanding
- Repeat clients — one family hired the firm twice, both "amazingly wonderful"

**Where sources disagree:**
- A 2023 Houzz review on this profile thanks "McCarter construction" rather than MacArthur — likely a misspelling, but possibly a mismatched review.

## Claims & citations

Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication.

- A Cambridge, MA design-build firm specializing in modern, energy-efficient home construction and renovation _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.maccoco.com) — “A Cambridge, MA design-build firm specializing in thoughtful, modern New England home construction, renovation and project management.”
- Says on its site it has been building and renovating homes since 1985 _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.maccoco.com) — “Company history (self-reported): Building and renovating homes since 1985”
- Run by Duncan MacArthur, described on the company's site as its developer _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.maccoco.com) — “Ownership (self-reported): Duncan MacArthur, described on the site as the business's developer”
- Holds a 5.0-star average across 7 Houzz reviews spanning 2014 to 2023 _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/macarthur-construction-company-pfvwus-pf~1703375833) — “Houzz: 5.0★ from 7 ratings”
- Architects who have collaborated with the firm for years describe Duncan MacArthur as "a master in his craft" with a strong sustainable-design focus _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/macarthur-construction-company-pfvwus-pf~1703375833) — “5★ Duncan MacArthur is a master in his craft. His experience is impressive and the quality of the work at MacArthur Construction is outstand…”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/macarthur-construction-company-pfvwus-pf~1703375833) — “5★ I have worked with MacArthur Construction for over a decade and I highly recommend them. They have a commitment to sustainable design tha…”
- A repeat client hired the firm for both a house and a later home office, calling both projects "amazingly wonderful" _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/macarthur-construction-company-pfvwus-pf~1703375833) — “5★ MacArthur Construction built our house and we could not be happier with it. Since the first time we walked into the house we realized it …”
- BuildZoom lists active Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor (#171931) and Construction Supervisor (#CS-048190) licenses for the company _(confidence: medium)_
  - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/macarthur-construction-co-inc) — “Licence listed on BuildZoom: License #171931 (Home Improvement Contractor) — Verified Active, Massachusetts”
  - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/macarthur-construction-co-inc) — “Licence listed on BuildZoom: License #CS-048190 (Building Licenses, Construction Supervisor) — Verified Active, Massachusetts”
- Lists LEED AP Homes and PassiveHaus credentials on Houzz _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/macarthur-construction-company-pfvwus-pf~1703375833) — “Listed certification: LEED AP Homes”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/macarthur-construction-company-pfvwus-pf~1703375833) — “Listed certification: PassiveHaus”
- BBB gives the business an A+ rating, though it is not a BBB-accredited business _(confidence: high)_
  - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/cambridge/profile/home-improvement/macarthur-construction-company-0021-100525) — “Better Business Bureau grade: A+”
  - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/cambridge/profile/home-improvement/macarthur-construction-company-0021-100525) — “BBB profile for MacArthur Construction Company (Cambridge, MA) shows an A+ BBB rating though the business is not BBB accredited, in business…”
- A 2013 Boston Magazine feature profiled an energy-efficient renovation the firm completed on Grove Street in Cambridge _(confidence: medium)_
  - [bostonmagazine.com](https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/2013/12/03/energy-efficient-grove-street-home/) — “bostonmagazine.com — But don’t classify the house Moskow’s team designed on Grove Street as a teardown: Technically, because the foundation …”
- BuildZoom and Houzz together show more than 25 completed projects around Cambridge and nearby towns _(confidence: medium)_
  - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/macarthur-construction-co-inc) — “25 project(s) shown on BuildZoom”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/macarthur-construction-company-pfvwus-pf~1703375833) — “9 project(s) shown on Houzz”
  - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/macarthur-construction-co-inc) — “BuildZoom profile for Macarthur Construction Co Inc (52 Standish Street, Cambridge, MA; owned by Duncan Macarthur) shows a BZ Score of 93, v…”
- Specializes in General Contractor / Remodeling _(confidence: high)_
  - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/cambridge/profile/home-improvement/macarthur-construction-company-0021-100525) — “BBB profile for MacArthur Construction Company (Cambridge, MA) shows an A+ BBB rating though the business is not BBB accredited, in business…”
  - [Official Website](https://www.maccoco.com) — “A Cambridge, MA design-build firm specializing in thoughtful, modern New England home construction, renovation and project management.”
  - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/macarthur-construction-co-inc) — “BuildZoom profile for Macarthur Construction Co Inc (52 Standish Street, Cambridge, MA; owned by Duncan Macarthur) shows a BZ Score of 93, v…”

## License

No license record has been checked yet for this contractor.

## Sources

- [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/macarthur-construction-company-pfvwus-pf~1703375833): 5.0★ from 7 ratings
- [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/macarthur-construction-co-inc): Listed on this source
- [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/cambridge/profile/home-improvement/macarthur-construction-company-0021-100525): Listed on this source
- [Official Website](https://www.maccoco.com): Self-reported profile and service details
- [Exa](https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/2013/12/03/energy-efficient-grove-street-home/): 1 web mention across the open web (each linked to its source)

## Mentions

Unverified third-party mentions found on the open web — relay with attribution ("a Reddit commenter said…"), never as Tavlee's own finding.

- “But don’t classify the house Moskow’s team designed on Grove Street as a teardown: Technically, because the foundation and parts of the first floor were reused, it’s a renovation. The abode was create…” — bostonmagazine.com (2013-12-11) — https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/2013/12/03/energy-efficient-grove-street-home/

## Recent reviews

- **5/5 · Houzz · H9HU-927775086 · 2023-05-13**: Finishing paint trim work was outstanding by Brandon. I also appreciated the attention to detail Brandon displayed even on the high roof line. Thank you McCarter construction.
- **5/5 · Houzz · Kim Bernstein · 2016-04-30**: The entire team at MacArthur Construction were great to work and we were very pleased with our remodel. We have an old house.with lots of quirks and there were a few surprises once the walls were open that required making revisions from the original plan. They were great explaining options and helpi…
- **5/5 · Houzz · Francesca Gino · 2016-04-21**: MacArthur Construction built our house and we could not be happier with it. Since the first time we walked into the house we realized it would be a wonderful home for our family. It was clear the house was built with a lot of care and attention to details, as well as with a unique and modern style. …
- **5/5 · Houzz · Farley Urmston · 2016-04-13**: My partner and I have worked with MacArthur Construction on several projects and have always been impressed with them. The team is friendly, industrious and efficient, and the company in general is unusually easy to work with. To us, they represent the perfect mix of budget consciousness, green thin…
- **5/5 · Houzz · Silvana Sawaya Architect · 2016-04-07**: Duncan MacArthur is a master in his craft. His experience is impressive and the quality of the work at MacArthur Construction is outstanding. As an architect, I have had the pleasure of working on about a dozen new and renovated houses with MacCOCO and always look forward to working with them again.…
- **5/5 · Houzz · John Lodge Architects · 2016-02-26**: I have worked with MacArthur Construction for over a decade and I highly recommend them. They have a commitment to sustainable design that far surpasses that of any other contractor I have worked with. In addition, they are a real pleasure to collaborate with. As an architect specializing in renovat…
- **5/5 · Houzz · nandreacr2007 · 2014-11-01**: A fantastic contractor. Specializes in Eco-friendly homes. We have lived in 2 MacArthur construction houses and we were thrilled with both of them. The work is simply top-quality - no corners are cut by the construction team. I cannot say enough good things!

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Data freshness: last scanned 2026-09-11T13:47:54.250Z.
Cite as: MacArthur Construction Company — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/macarthur-construction-company)
Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/macarthur-construction-company