After the capitol fire of January 1921, the State of West Virginia entered into an agreement with architect Cass Gilbert to design and construct a new capitol, which was completed in 1932. This began a relationship with Gilbert and his firm, which was continued with his son, Cass Gilbert Jr., into the 1950s.

After the old capitol burned on January 3, 1921, state government officials began the search for an architect to design a new building. On July 23, 1921, Governor Ephraim Morgan and Cass Gilbert signed an agreement involving Gilbert in all phases of the project from the site selection through the construction and even design or select furnishings if requested. In return, he was to be paid 6% of the total cost.

The younger Gilbert went on to design both the state Parking Building and Building 3, the Motor Vehicles Building, making the West Virginia Capitol Complex the only one with architecture by a father and son combination.

The lead base of the Capitol dome has been often blamed for the problems with the gold leaf adhering. In 1940 engineers for DuPont studied the problem and believed that the changes in temperature and moisture from the weather might contribute to the lead "thinning."

Work on the improvements to the riverbank in front of the Capitol was performed in conjunction with the city's work on enlarging and paving Kanawha Boulevard. Governor Homer A. Holt worked closely with architect Cass Gilbert, Jr. and the mayor's office on the details of the 1940 project.

Gilbert signed an agreement with the State Office Building Commission to design and construct Building 3 to house the Motor Vehicles office and other state agencies. Difficulties in funding the project would delay construction until 1949 and completion until 1952.

As architect of Building 3, Cass Gilbert, Jr. oversaw the work of numerous subcontractors, reviewing samples and trying to resolve problems between all the parties. Notations from his office staff show approvals and referrals.

While planning for Building 3 was underway, Gilbert was also consulting with state officials about improvements to the Main Capitol building. This letter points out that responsibility for the building's maintenance was under the Board of Control but that all major changes were subject to the approval of the Board of Public Works, which consisted of the major elected state officials.

Coordinating the movement of various state agencies from the Capitol and outside office space into the newly completed Building 3 required detailed scheduling, as these timetables show for the order of the various departments as well as the internal moving of the Department of Health.

The state acquired land to build a parking building at the corner of California and Washington streets, which was surveyed before Gilbert and his firm could begin the drawings and specifications for construction.