Our Mission
The Massachusetts Construction Research Group (MCRG) is committed to delivering independent, data-driven construction cost insight that empowers public sector clients to plan, fund, and deliver projects with confidence. We strive to bring transparency, accuracy, and accountability to every stage of the process- helping municipalities and public agencies make informed decisions, maximize the value of taxpayer dollars, and achieve successful project outcomes
Our Experts
We’re a team of industry experts with direct experience in construction, public administration, and cost estimating
We bring together:
Construction industry experience - a deep understanding of how projects are built, bid, and managed in the Massachusetts market
Government and public administration knowledge - long-term familiarity with how public agencies plan, budget, and procure
Cost estimating and quantity surveying expertise - extensive technical expertise for rigorous, defensible cost analysis
But we’re researchers first. Our job is to gather, analyze, and produce accurate, usable information, not to sell products or advocate for particular outcomes
Our Approach
We collect and analyze verified construction cost data drawn from publicly available records - bid tabulations and procurement documents from municipalities and agencies across Massachusetts. This means our data is verifiable, objective, and directly relevant to our partners
We focus specifically on:
Building and vertical construction costs - new construction, renovation, and fit-out across building types common to public agency portfolios
Materials and commodity pricing - tracking key inputs that drive cost volatility, including structural steel, concrete, lumber, and mechanical components
We do not rely on national cost indexes adjusted for regional factors. Our data comes directly from Massachusetts projects, procured by Massachusetts public entities, at prices actually bid in this market