Student Affairs Spotlight on Sustainability

Living spaces on campus consistently exceed expectations; bedrooms complete with matching furniture sets and carefully curated art decorations that line common room walls all help to build an inviting atmosphere for students. 

Marilynn Sanford is to thank for the quality living spaces we enjoy on campus. I had the privilege of talking with her to learn more about her role as Project and Building Maintenance Coordinator and about the ways she is constantly pushing for sustainability within her work environment.

Marilynn has been working at Duke for the past 18 years and handles anything from tearing down walls, to checking sprinkler systems. She also leads residence hall renovations. She managed the recent renovations in the 300 Swift apartment building lobby and orchestrated the renewal of the common room furniture in the East campus residence hall, Pegram, to name just a few of her projects. One of the aspects of her work that brings her immense joy is being able to cultivate spaces for students that feel like home.

“I’ve always had a deep passion for design and renovation…whether it’s watching HGTV for inspiration or repurposing items to refresh my own space. Being immersed in design concepts and seeing them come to life has always driven me. When I was promoted to my role in FPO, I gained an even deeper appreciation for the process, learning how every detail comes together to create a cohesive vision. What excites me most is transforming a concept into reality and seeing  my creative vision materialize, especially when it comes to our living spaces. There’s nothing more fulfilling than that…I also see the students as my own. I want them to come to Duke and have a positive experience. Students need to focus on their studies and the place where they do these things needs to be inviting, calm, quiet, as well as a place where they can kick back and have a good time. My goal is to make their time here as stress free as possible.”

Aside from the impressive attention to detail and careful consideration that Marilynn invests in each of her projects, she is also constantly considering how to make the project more sustainable. The 300 Swift lobby? Everything purchased “used” from Creative Business Interiors. The Pegram common room chairs? Reupholstered and returned to the renewed space.

Her general approach to a new design project on campus may look something like this:

During the early stages of the renovation, Marilynn surveys the furniture and decides what pieces “have good bones.” In other words, what can she divert from being sent to the landfill. Using the connections she has made with the local company, Finish Pros, she sends the salvageable pieces for reupholstery and then returns the furniture to its space.

“I’m committed to sustainability in design, so I make every effort to repurpose furniture rather than sending it to the landfill. Unless the structural integrity is compromised, like broken wood that can’t be repaired, I prefer to refurbish pieces and keep them in my inventory for future projects. Or, I’ll reach out to our neighboring department to see if they have any needs.”

For furniture that is not sent to be reupholstered, but is still in good condition, like when an area undergoes a complete design change, Marilynn ensures the furniture has another route to take before being sent to the landfill, such as by being repurposed or donated. For example, much of the furniture from the West campus residence hall, Kilgo, which has recently undergone design upgrades, was donated to Trosa to help furnish their new facility.

Marilynn has also greatly reduced the number of mattresses that are thrown out. By first initiating the transition to plastic-covered mattresses, which are easier to clean than the previously used cloth-made mattresses and therefore have a longer life span, Marilynn also consistently partners with LRP Recycling to recycle all mattresses that are in need of replacement.

Even more, Marilynn is always thinking of creative ways to increase sustainability within her department; “I have ideas all day long, and I run them past my boss all day,” she joked. Her newest idea includes repurposing wood from old headboards.

“If we take the headboards apart, we can create artistic design with all of this beautiful, solid wood. Maybe we give it to a carpentry shop; maybe to a local business that can come in and do some architectural projects within our buildings or within the city of Durham. We don't have to throw this wood away. I’m also looking into donations to local technical woodworking shops or local schools that may have a need.”

When I asked what motivates her drive towards sustainability, she explained,

“It's always been in me to be that way. I'm like that at home, and I really just take what I've learned, what I do at home, and I bring it to work and remix it here a little bit…Sometimes in life, you have to learn how to repurpose things, because you can't get what you want at the time. So, you learn to repurpose what you have. And that's where it actually came from.”

Marilynn’s work is a shining example of repurposing’s benefits: a cost-effective and environmentally-mindful act that helps to minimize unnecessary waste. I challenge every reader to follow in Marilynn’s footsteps and think creatively about how to repurpose what you have. And, all the while, I invite you to work towards sustainably cultivating a welcoming environment for yourself and for those around you, as Marilynn does for every student on Duke’s campus.

~written by Anna Brown, Duke SAS intern