Chretien Macutay
Associate principal, G70
Macutay is a technology guru who has helped the multi-disciplinary design firm implement advanced tools. A few of the projects he has worked on include the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, West Loch Modular Housing and more. He is dedicated to building affordable housing in Hawaii and is an active member in the architecture community.
What song from the ‘90s is your favorite and why?
Santana – “Smooth,” feat. Rob Thomas. Because the riffs are smooth!
What is your ultimate career goal and how do you plan to achieve it?
My ultimate career goal as an architect would be to have the places I design leave a lasting, responsible and positive impact that goes beyond my generation. Of course, it’s not something to be achieved alone, so I am hopeful to continue to partner with others [who] share that vision to leave a place better than we found it.
What volunteer efforts are you most proud of?
I definitely enjoy doing build days for Habitat for Humanity – there’s something magical about purposefully coming together to build someone’s future home with your own hands. Additionally, while not technically volunteer work, I also very much enjoy teaching.
What does Hawaii need to attract and retain young professionals?
There are so many cost-of-living stresses that our young professionals are dealing with. One of the many things we need to do is to find solutions that provide our young professionals their basic right to safe, comfortable and attractive housing that is affordable, to alleviate that burden.