Metro Sign employees Tony Losureo and Joe McCabe begin the installation of banners Wednesday, Aug. 27, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Salem State College.

As contractors were installing banners around campus commemorating the 150th anniversary of the college, workers were completing renovation of the 37.5-acre former GTE/Sylvania site for the School of Business, Department of Music, and Information Technology.

Students will begin using classrooms in the new Central Campus building project later this month.

" It seems fitting that, as we begin to celebrate the college's 150th year, the Central Campus project begins to transform from dream to reality," said college president Nancy D. Harrington.

The Central Campus project is the latest in a series of changes that have marked the school's history since it began as a single building on the corner of Broad and Summer streets.

To celebrate its sesquicentennial, Salem State is planning a 150th Celebration Opening Gala for Thursday, Sept. 12 at the Peabody Essex Museum. The 150th anniversary theme will also be woven into many of the events planned at the college this year. Also, a Web site will attempt to capture campus memories dating back to when the college first opened in 1854 as Salem Normal School.

Salem State is inviting former students, faculty and administrators to visit www.salemstate.edu/150 to send along their memories, stories and photos. These will eventually be posted on a special sesquicentennial Web site along with a history of the campus buildings, a list of famous alumni and a schedule of events commemorating Salem State College's 150 years.