The centre design incorporates a curved glass and stainless steel building created by Foster and Partners, Mott MacDonald (building services), Buro Happold (structural engineering) and Arup (acoustics). Situated overlooking Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, and the Tyne Bridge. Foster and Partners were selected following an architectural design competition managed by RIBA Competitions.

Planning for the centre began in the early 1990s, when the Northern Sinfonia orchestra, with encouragement from Northern Arts, began working on plans for a new concert hall. They were soon joined by regional folk music development agency Folkworks, which ensured that the needs of the region's traditional music were taken into consideration; folk music is well represented in the Sage's programme of events, alongside jazz, acoustic, classical, indie, world, electronic, country and dance. Practice spaces for professional musicians, amateurs and students were an important part of the provision.

The planning and construction process cost over �70 million, which was raised primarily through National Lottery grants. The contractor was Laing O'Rourke. The centre has a range of patrons, notably Sage Group which contributed a large sum of money to have the building named after it. Sage plc has helped support the charitable activities of The Sage Gateshead since its conception. The venue opened over the weekend 17 � 19 December 2004.

The Sage website: http://thesagegateshead.org/about-us/landmark-building/