No work shall be done or obligation of the state incurred for the erection of any new building or the alteration, enlargement or improvement of existing buildings unless the work is under definite plans and specifications first submitted to and approved by the commission; and no obligations shall in any manner be created in connection with such improvement until an appropriation for the part of the work to be contracted for in the budget period has been made by the legislature.

In case the appropriation to be made for a project does not contemplate the completion of the entire project, all requests for such appropriations shall set forth a complete description of the whole project, and the estimated and detailed cost thereof, and shall separately state the part of the project which has been completed, if any, the actual cost thereof, and the part remaining to be completed and the estimated cost thereof, and the part proposed to be completed by the appropriation requested, together with the estimated cost of such portion of the work.

All such work shall be by contract authorized and signed by the commission on behalf of the state. The architect shall be selected by the commission and his compensation determined by it under an agreement in writing.