Construction on the building began in 1976 based on a design by architects Erik Ahnborg and Sune Lindström.

Herbert Blomstedt conducted the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir in Franz Berwald's Sinfonie singulière, a commission from Sven-Erik Bäck - the cantata 'Vid havets yttersta gräns' (words by Östen Sjöstrand), and the Symphonie fantastique by Berlioz.

At the main entrance to the concert hall there is a sculpture of Berwald by the Swedish artist Carl Eldh.

Since 2003, the Östersjöfestivalen (Baltic Sea Festival) in late summer each year is based at the Berwald Hall for a series of events.

[6] The building is sometimes casually called "the mine" (gruvan) in reference to the hall's location partially underground.