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Research to Design a More Eco-Conscious Built Environment
Margaret Lepeshkin ’26 uses art to understand the world around her and seek creative solutions to positively transform the impact of our built environment on the natural world.
Margaret Lepeshkin ’26
Westford, Massachusetts
What drew you to this field of study?
I have been drawing and observing the natural world around me for as long as I can remember. However, I never felt like the traditional labels of “artist” or “designer" fully described me, especially [given] my understanding of the world as a naturalist. The new design and technology concentration for Bachelor of Fine Arts students at UMass Amherst encouraged me to combine the skills I developed in disciplines such as painting, scientific illustration, and graphic design to build my own research-driven practice.
How do you conduct your research?
I spend a lot of time outside. Walking is a ritualistic activity that nurtures a deeper connection and observation of the world around me. It was through my walks around different spaces on campus that I initially observed the “bird-window collision” problem. Another important component of my research process is spending time in archives photographing specimens. My favorite collections are housed in the UMass Natural History Collections at the Morrill Science Center and the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology in Cambridge. I primarily research and work with the ornithology and ichthyology collections, as well as some of the Entomology Collection housed in Fernald Hall. From the photographs I take with microscopes and my own camera, I develop detailed sketches and compositions. Drawing has always been a tool for me to understand the world around me and seek creative solutions.
How does your faculty mentor support your research?
Demetra Vogiatzaki was a visiting professor who taught the class Art History 343 20th-Century Architecture: Socialism, Capitalism, and Globalization, which heavily influenced my interest in architecture and the built environment. Her dedication to highlighting women and queer architects in her lectures, especially in a class focused on the 20th century, was really refreshing to see. Her vision for a world that demanded better, that was held more accountable through its built environment—especially for underprivileged groups—really influenced my design thinking. The only threat to progress is a lack of imagination.
I am most excited about finding creative solutions in materiality that can positively transform the impact of our built environment and also push public art and design as a communication, learning, and engagement tool.
Margaret Lepeshkin ‘26
What do you see as the impact—or potential impact—of your work?
I have seen the impact of the public-facing installation to not only protect birds, but to nurture conversation and awareness around bird-window collisions. I also see the potential impact of artists and designers to hold our campus built environment accountable to address biodiversity loss from our current climate crisis. While the Studio Arts Building is the first building on the UMass campus to incorporate this retrofit into its building facade, I hope other buildings identified by the UMass Bird-Friendly team as high risks to birds are inspired to adopt their own modifications.
What do you find most exciting about your research?
My research centers on examining human impact on the natural environment, with a particular focus on how the built environment and infrastructures disrupt and transform existing ecosystems. I am most excited about finding creative solutions in materiality that can positively transform the impact of our built environment and also push public art and design as a communication, learning, and engagement tool.
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What are you most proud of?
There have been no reported collisions since the installation of the retrofit on the facade of the UMass Studio Arts Building. Birds are particularly vulnerable to window collisions during periods of migrational movement. This means birds were completely protected by the design during the first fall avian migration since installation.
How has your research enhanced your overall educational experience at UMass?
My research has enhanced my overall education experience by allowing me to pursue my interests outside of class while still engaging with scholarship. Presenting my research through public art installations and exhibitions has introduced me to opportunities that I otherwise would not have been exposed to—particularly interdisciplinary opportunities with other UMass departments such as architecture and environmental conservation and even the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to pursue my interest and research into the impact of the built environment through advanced study in graduate architectural design programs to learn how we design the built environment. Through my art and design skillset, I hope to continue developing creative solutions that push materiality to create an eco-conscious built environment.
Why would you recommend UMass to a friend?
There is a place for everyone here, especially for pursuing your research interests. However, if you are in a department or field that is not typically associated with research, it is vital to actively advocate and seek those opportunities for yourself. There are also many amazing faculty members who value student voices and skillsets, especially in the arts. You would be surprised how many of those do not work in the arts-related departments here. Make connections outside of your department and always trust your vision.