The building was designed by the architect Edvard Ravnikar and was built at the southern edge of Republic Square in Ljubljana between 1977 and 1982.

The Cankar Centre also has a large foyer where events are held (artistic performances, dances, book fairs, etc.).

In front of the building stands a monument to Ivan Cankar, designed in 1982 by the sculptor Slavko Tihec.

In September 2011 the renovation of the first lobby was held, increasing the height of the ceiling, replacing the carpet with bamboo parquet and refurbished lighting; The recast was received by critics of the Association of Architects of Ljubljana, the Association of Architects of Slovenia, the Chamber of Architecture and Space of Slovenia, the Architecture and Design Museum, the Dessa Galleries and the Ferry Institute for the purpose of encroaching on the architectural image Space.

The ground floor of the centre, like most of the present-day square, was owned by the Roman Catholic Church until 1960, when it was nationalized by the People's Republic of Slovenia.