TU to ReUSE campus office furniture
The program provides sustainable way to store furniture for future use
By Kyle Hobstetter on January 10, 2022
As Towson University's momentum increases, so does the need for furniture for faculty and staff. Facilities Management office has come up with a cost-effective and sustainable solution.
Starting this week, Towson University will open its TU ReUSE shop, which enables departments to quickly, sustainably and affordably purchase used furniture for campus buildings.
The solution, in partnership with Re-Form Commercial Office Furniture, follows nearly two years of planning. The program will not only provide TU with storage space for furniture, but it will be a cheaper and faster alternative for departments looking for furniture.
Senior facilities planner Kerry Spence, who has taken the lead with the ReUSE shop, says the partnership will make it easier for materials management to help the university with its furniture needs.
“Re-Form provides this service where they store your furniture, inventory it, create a website for you where people can browse and order it and then they will clean it and do minor repairs before returning it to campus,” Spence says of the process. “It provides an extra level of service for us and for our campus users.”
The ReUSE shop also embraces Towson University’s commitment to sustainable practices, responsible management and efficient use of all resources.
Programs like the ReUSE Shop show the many ways that facilities management demonstrates the university’s commitment to creating a sustainable environment and reflects TU’s stewardship of natural resources.
“This program is going to prevent a lot of good furniture from going to a landfill,” Spence says. “We’re really excited, and it will bring an added value to campus. I think it will also make [it] easier for people to let go of things they don't really want because they know there's a place for it to go.”
TU has been once again named a Green College in The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges. In the 2022 edition, Towson University received a score of 94 on a 60–99 scale. The University is among 420 schools chosen based on their sustainability-related practices and programs, ranging from academic offerings and campus initiatives. TU was previously named to the list in 2018 and 2021.
Towson University is dedicated to sustainability, which is one of the University's six goals in its Strategic Plan. TU seeks to build and maintain a sustainable campus through economically viable initiatives that are environmentally and socially responsible.
Patricia Watson, Assistant Director of Sustainability, was one of two recipients of the 2021 USM Regents’ Staff Awards — the highest honor bestowed upon staff across the system. She was honored for Extraordinary Public Service to the University or to the Greater Community.