[1] Construction began on the facility, previously named the Community Arts Center, in 1974, when a group of citizens met to discuss building a permanent structure to house Starlight Theatre, a summer theater program in Rockford.

By 1976, a stage, orchestra pit and rough graded seating area were built, supported entirely with private monies.

It was not until former Rock Valley College Foundation Director Charles Blake committed himself to the completion of the current phase that construction began.

The crowning achievement of the Bengt Sjostrom Theatre renovation was completed in June 2003—a motorized retractable roof.

[3][4] Technologies typically employed to move roofs over massive stadiums were adapted by Studio Gang Architects and Minneapolis-based engineering firm Uni-Systems.