§18-23-5 Construction and repair of buildings. - West Virginia Statutes

§18-23-5. Construction and repair of buildings.
The governing boards shall have authority to employ competent architects for the preparation of plans and specifications for all new buildings to be built for state institutions of higher education or for the repairing or remodeling of such existing buildings, or the construction of additions thereto; to employ competent persons to superintend the work of constructing such new buildings or of such repairs, remodeling or additions; and to call for bids and award contracts for such work. The governing boards shall have authority to erect any new building, or to make repairs or additions to, or changes in, any building already constructed that is used for higher education, without letting the same to contract, or by employing thereon the labor of the inmates of any institution of the state subject to the approval of the director of the department of correction, whenever in the judgment of the governing boards the best interests of the state will be served thereby. The governing boards may also arrange with contractors for the erection of new buildings or for additions or repairs to old ones, to use thereon the labor of such inmates subject to approval of the director of the department of correction. The governing boards shall have authority, whenever in their judgment a new building is needed by a state institution of higher education, or whenever it is necessary to build an addition or make material repairs to such building already in existence, with the approval of the governor, to employ a competent architect or architects to make plans and specifications therefor, and estimates of the cost thereof, for submission to the next session of the Legislature, to aid that body in making an appropriation for the purpose. The governor may pay the cost of such plans and specifications and estimates out of his civil contingent fund, or the governing boards may cause the same to be paid out of the current expense fund, or out of any appropriation made for buildings and land or for repairs and improvements of the institution for which the building or work is designed. So far as practicable all buildings erected for the use of the state shall be fireproof.