Space for judicial proceedings will be expanded in Lincoln County over the next year as a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new district court in Kemmerer Tuesday, July 15.

“This is creating a larger district court for future growth and expansion,” Taylor Ward, with SIRQ Construction said after the first symbolic shovels of dirt were turned Tuesday morning, July 15, 2025.

With the 9 a.m. groundbreaking county and construction officials opened work on the 18,000 sq. ft. expansion to the existing Kemmerer/Lincoln County Justice Center that will be the new home for the local and regional courts.

“This has been many years in the making to get to this point,” Ward said. “We have been working with GSPS Architects and they have been a phenomenal partner in designing this,” he explained. “We have come together with the Lincoln County team.”

That coordination has included both the district judge’s office and the county commission.

“We have been working the past eight to nine months together on the design-build process,” Ward recalled.

“With the ground breaking on July 15, we have about a year for completion of this project.”

Ward said the finer points of the finished building will reflect the southwest atmosphere.  “It has some selective finishes inside that are tailored to the this fossil county,” he explained. “We selected some finishes and stone that really highlights and accents the natural feel of the building.”

He concluded, “The finishes that are selected really represent Lincoln County and Wyoming and how they are viewed on the map.”