Designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Philip Johnson[3] and John Burgee,[4] it has an arena, theater, exhibit hall and meeting rooms.

[7] On the grounds of the Peoria Civic Center sits the massive "Sonar Tide," the last and largest sculpture of the pioneer of abstract minimalism Ronald Bladen.

[9][11] Carver Arena has been hosts to acts such as Metallica, Eagles, Elton John, Bob Seger, Kiss, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Jason Aldean, Cher, Janet Jackson, James Taylor, Avenged Sevenfold, Shinedown, Godsmack, AJR, Five Finger Death Punch, The Harlem Globetrotters, World Wrestling Entertainment, Disney, Monster Jam, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, Disney on Ice, and basketball exhibition games for the Chicago Bulls.

[13] Carver Arena hosted the Illinois High School Association boys' basketball state finals for two weeks every March from 1996 until 2019.

[14] Harry Connick Jr. set a new box office record for a concert in the theater with his December 3, 2022 performance.