COLUMBIA (AP) -- COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- University of South Carolina officials have canceled bids from architects looking to design a $90 million business school in favor of a firm chosen by the school's namesake and benefactor.

The State of Columbia reported Sunday that no state rules were broken by the bid cancellations earlier this month. But architects said the unprecedented move so late in the bidding process was costly for them.

Lake City financier Darla Moore has donated millions of dollars to USC. She is a university trustee, the business school is named for her and she sits on the board of a private foundation that will pay $4 million to a New York architectural firm to design the new business school.

Moore chose Raphael Vinoly Architects who were among the finalists for the contract.

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Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)