The building dates back to 1938 and was originally the administrative headquarters of the Bergen Lysverker electric company; designed by Fredrik Arnesen and Arthur Darre Kaarbø, it is recognizable for its iconic Tårnsalen, a circular room on the third floor overlooking the city.

Currently, Lysverket is closed for renovation and does not host permanent exhibitions; however, the Lysverket restaurant on the ground floor remains open and is renowned with a Michelin star. The foyer and temporary spaces host occasional pop-up exhibitions, such as the exhibition A Touch of Metal (July-August 2025) with the artist Callum Innes.

Lysverket is part of the KODE circuit, Norway's largest art museum, with access on a single ticket and also includes Rasmus Meyer (KODE 3) — home to one of the world's largest collections of Edvard Munch — Stenersen (KODE 2) and Permanenten (KODE 1), the main venue for decorative and contemporary art.