What Star Contracting does

Star Contracting Company is a family-run general contracting firm founded in 1980 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, by Michael Stella and John Molé. The firm specializes in Passive House and carbon-conscious residential construction, offering three core services: new construction (custom homes, accessory dwelling units, and multi-family projects built to Passive House/Low Energy standards), additions (attic conversions, attached garages, in-law suites, mudrooms, family rooms), and whole-home renovations of pre-1960 vintage properties such as 1800s farmhouses, Victorian, and Colonial homes. Its differentiation rests on a systems-based Passive House methodology (PHIUS Certified Builder), trusted trade-partner involvement early in the design process, and a panelized offsite construction technique that enables building shells to be fully erected in 14 days per multifamily building.

The firm's revenue model is project-based and quote-based, with no publicly disclosed pricing and no recurring or subscription revenue. Projects are sourced through direct homeowner inquiries, architect and designer referrals (Zero Energy Design, Hue Architecture, Liz Miller Interiors), and municipal RFPs (City of Boston). Customer segments include affluent homeowners seeking high-performance custom homes, owners of historic Boston-area homes, and municipal affordable housing programs; the affordable housing segment is the most recent, anchored by a 12-unit, three-building Passive House project with construction that began in early 2025.

The company serves the Greater Boston area and announced expansion into Berkshire County in 2025, with a Berkshires custom home project planned for groundbreaking in 2026. Leadership is concentrated in the Stella family: co-founder Michael Stella remains principal, co-founder John Molé served as principal in charge for over 40 years, and Milo Stella (Michael's eldest son), who joined in 2008 and leads the Passive House transition, serves as General Manager. There are no institutional investors, parent companies, or external ownership structures identified in the source material.

Name

Star Contracting

Legal name

Star Contracting Company

Website

https://starcontractinginc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Star Contracting is a family-run Massachusetts general contractor specializing in Passive House and carbon-conscious residential construction, including custom homes, ADUs, multi-family projects, additions, and historic home renovations for affluent homeowners, historic homeowners, and municipal affordable housing programs in Greater Boston and the Berkshires.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Construction Services

NAICS

New Housing For-Sale Builders (236117)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential General Contracting (New Build) (IMAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Detached ADU (Backyard Cottage) Construction (HSAPAMAA)

Keywords

• Residential construction services
• Passive house building
• General contracting
• Home renovations additions
• Custom home construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Dorchester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Residential Construction Services: General contracting services for custom residential projects including new construction, additions, and renovations. Revenue is project-based, generated through construction contracts for residential builds and remodeling work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Star Contracting is a family-run general contracting firm providing custom residential construction services, specializing in Passive House and carbon-conscious building. Core services include new construction of Passive House and Low Energy buildings (custom homes, ADUs, and multi-family projects), living-space additions (attic conversions, attached garages, in-law suites, mudrooms, family rooms), and whole-home renovations of vintage Greater Boston properties (1800s Farmhouses, Victorian, Colonial).

Product overview

Star Contracting is a family-run general contracting firm offering custom residential construction services. The company specializes in Passive House and carbon-conscious construction, providing three core services: New Construction (Passive-House and Low Energy buildings for custom homes, ADUs, and multi-family projects), Additions (living space expansions including attic conversions, garages, in-law suites), and Renovations (whole-home remodeling for vintage properties). Projects include Passive House certified homes, Net-Zero Energy ADUs, and affordable multifamily developments. The company serves the Greater Boston area and is expanding to Berkshire County in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Construction (Passive House and Low Energy Buildings) Custom construction of Passive House and Low Energy buildings for homeowners and developers, covering custom homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and multi-family projects, leveraging a systems-based methodology and trusted trade-partner network.
• Additions Construction services that add living space and value to existing homes, including second-story additions, full wing additions, attic conversions, attached garages, in-law suites, mudrooms, and family rooms.
• Renovations Whole-home renovation and remodeling services for vintage homes such as 1800s Farmhouses, Victorians, and Colonials in the Greater Boston area, with a holistic, respectful approach that preserves architectural character.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hue ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Star Contracting & Hue Architecture partnered to respond to a City of Boston RFP to build affordable homeownership units on vacant city lots. Developing 12 units across three buildings with construction starting early 2025.
• Zero Energy DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm providing design services for Passive House certified residential projects.
• ZED (Zero Energy Design)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm engaged for Stow Passive House project.
• Liz Miller InteriorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design firm providing design services for renovation projects including Milton Renovation and Newton Colonial Renovation.
• RMD (Ryan Merry Design)minorOthersWebsite design and development partner credited for company website.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Suffolk Construction: One of the largest general contractors in the Greater Boston area, covering multifamily, commercial, and institutional projects. Relevant as a competing bidder on larger affordable housing and multifamily RFPs in the Boston market, though far larger and more diversified than Star Contracting.
• Dellbrook|JKS: Greater Boston-area construction manager with multifamily, residential, and commercial work. Comparable to Star Contracting in competing for similar residential and multifamily opportunities in the Boston market, with a substantially larger organizational footprint.
• Connolly Brothers: Beverly, MA-based general contractor serving commercial, institutional, and high-end residential clients across Greater Boston. Comparable to Star Contracting in client sophistication and project customization, but with broader service offerings and greater scale.
• Consigli Construction: Massachusetts-based general contractor with significant multifamily, institutional, and affordable housing operations. Comparable to Star Contracting on Boston-area multifamily and affordable housing projects, but materially larger and more diversified.
• Tocci Building Corp: Larger Boston-area construction manager and general contractor serving residential, commercial, and institutional clients. Comparable to Star Contracting as a Greater Boston GC competing for similar architect-driven and select multifamily projects, but with greater scale and a broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Chinburg Properties: New Hampshire-based residential developer and builder recognized for energy-efficient and Passive House projects. Comparable to Star Contracting in sustainable-build expertise, regional customer base, and multifamily residential capability, with overlapping green-building credentials.
• Sea-Dar Construction: Established Boston-area general contractor focused on residential, commercial, and institutional projects. Directly comparable to Star Contracting in geographic footprint, project type mix, and service to architects and homeowners in the Greater Boston market.
• C.E. Floyd Company: Bedford, MA-based general contractor specializing in residential, multifamily, and light commercial projects. Comparable to Star Contracting in regional positioning, custom project orientation, and architect-driven workflow in the Greater Boston market.
• Bright Built Home: Massachusetts-based Passive House builder specializing in high-performance, net-zero custom homes. Most directly comparable to Star Contracting on Passive House specialization, custom residential focus, and Massachusetts geographic footprint.
• Bulfinch Group: Boston-area construction firm spanning residential, commercial, and real estate development. Comparable to Star Contracting as a Greater Boston contractor serving discerning private clients and institutional customers, with overlapping exposure to high-end and institutional work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/starcontractingco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/star-contracting-inc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Star Contracting