Professional Profile: Jane Kepros

Lab Design spoke to Jane Kepros, LEED GA, the director of lab programming at Margulies Perruzzi about her career journey, professional advice, and hobbies.

Jane Kepros

Q: How did you get started in your career? Did you major in your field in college, get an internship, switch careers mid-stream, etc.?

A: I have had an interest in art and architecture since childhood. That interest evolved into engineering and science as I grew older. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering and got a job at a small pharmaceutical start-up after college.  

I worked there for eight years and during that time had the opportunity to wear many hats.  My main role was working in our research biology labs, mostly doing molecular and cell biology studies. But my group also went through two lab moves and I helped with the equipment layouts and getting the labs set up and ready when we moved in.  I was on the site safety committee, helping learn, share, and enforce safety measures in our labs. I was part of our celebrations team and got very involved in planning and participating in events and building our company culture.  

While still working in the pharmaceutical industry, I started taking evening architecture classes at Boston Architectural Center (now named Boston Architectural College) for fun. When I decided it was time for something new in my career, I decided to check the job postings on the Boston Society of Architects website.  By sheer luck, I stumbled upon an advertisement from a small, boutique architecture firm looking for a Lab Planner.  In the advertisement, they indicated they were seeking either an experienced architect with ten plus years of lab planning experience or a scientist without architecture experience, willing to be trained in lab planning. I had never heard of lab planning, but I felt like it would be the perfect fit for me.  

I ended up applying for and accepting that job.  I had an amazing mentor, who was a former scientist turned architect, that I worked with for over seven years. She taught me so much.  

Thirteen years after changing careers, working with over 80 clients, and being involved in over 160 projects, I still feel like I am learning new things every day.

Q: What is the best piece of professional advice you have received?

A: One piece of professional (and life) advice that resonates with me is to be empathetic. Our industry requires a huge amount of collaboration among team members. Sometimes, a team member might be having a bad day or be distracted by something else going on in their life, and not be as focused or engaged as usual. Sometimes, you may need to collaborate with someone new in their role or new to the process, and you must be patient with their questions. Sometimes, you may need to work with someone who may not be a native speaker of the same language as you, and you must listen (and potentially clarify) when they use terminology differently from how you might use it. Taking the time to listen and relate has only been helpful in my career.

Q: What is one important skill you think that all lab design experts should have? 

A: A sense of perspective. At the end of the day, remember that you are designing a space for your client. You are not going to be working in that space, they will. You are not going to be maintaining that space, they are.  Just because another client asked for something in their space, does not mean that all clients want that, even if their program seems very similar on the surface. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that the space is functional, safe, and that the client is happy with the end result.

Q: What’s a common misconception about your job?

A: That lab programming and lab planning are the same thing. Lab programming is making sure you have all the necessary puzzle pieces ready to go, and lab planning is figuring out how to put the puzzle together. I do both and take pride in my ability to work through challenging programs in creative ways.  

Q: What kinds of hobbies or interests do you have outside of work?

A: I love learning new skills and working on new projects. I especially enjoy crafting and sewing and have made many award-winning costumes for various events, as well as functional items, such as traditional leather mittens and mukluks for snowshoeing. I enjoy sporting events, volunteering, travel, theatre, music, hoppy beer, and good food. I spend many weekends each year camping or hiking around New England.