Melissa Higgs, Principal at hcma architecture + design, is passionate about using architecture to create innovative public buildings that bring communities together. She is a firm believer in the power of design as a catalyst for positive change. Her work focuses on recreation, arts, and culture facilities, including the award-winning West Vancouver Community Centre, Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre, and Clayton Community Centre—the first Passive House certified community centre in North America. Higgs is currently leading the delivery of the Northeast Community Centre, a new facility in Coquitlam that includes recreation, aquatics, and a branch library.