Health Science Wing Construction Update

ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING – August 4, 2025 

Western Wyoming Community College (Western) continues to make steady progress on the construction of its new Health Science wing, an $11.1 million expansion that broke ground in May 2024. The 10,100+ square-foot facility, located on the west side of campus, is designed to meet the rising demand for healthcare education across the region. Once complete, anticipated for August 2026, the new space will support approximately 200 students annually across Western’s nursing, nurse assistant, and phlebotomy programs. 

This vital project stems from a 2020 Level II study and subsequent recommendations from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which emphasized the need for enhanced space and updated facilities. Funding includes contributions from state, College, and federal sources—most notably a $3 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) under the Assistance to Coal Communities initiative. The expansion aligns with goals outlined in Governor Gordon’s Wyoming Innovation Partnership report to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce. 

Dr. Kirk Young, Western’s President shared, “We are pleased with the progress on this facility. We are very optimistic about the impact this facility will have on our abilities to meet the regions healthcare training needs.” 

Since the groundbreaking, construction crews have completed several phases of the project. Over the winter, excavation was finished and a new sewer line installed and successfully tied into the main system. Concrete work progressed with footings and foundations poured, along with new concrete floors for the facility and mechanical areas. The skylight was removed and patched in the existing section of the building, while interior demolition was completed to integrate the expansion with current infrastructure. HVAC equipment was also installed in the basement, and both underground electrical and plumbing systems were put in place. Structural steel has been erected, and flooring was prepped for the next stages. 

As of now, the project has entered what’s referred to as the “rough” phase of construction. This includes framing, the installation of exposed wooden trusses and steel framing, and rough-in for HVAC equipment and piping. Fireproofing and exterior sheeting will follow.  

By the end of summer, the College anticipates reaching several visible milestones: completion of the building’s exterior, including brick and stucco, installation of sidewalks, and the building reaching a “water-tight” status. Interior work will continue, with early signs of wall texturing and ceiling installation expected. 

The Wyoming Arts Council invites artists to submit proposals for public artwork to be featured in the new facility wing—an innovative space dedicated to healing, learning, and connection through technology and education. Selected works may be installed in the exterior plaza, mounted on the lobby wall, or suspended within the shared lobby and study area. The submission deadline is August 31, 2025. 

For the latest updates, and to follow this construction project, visit: westernwyoming.edu/healthscience. During construction, the west entrance will be closed, but the parking lot is open. Those needing to access the building from the west please use the doors by the Wellbeing and Accessibility Office until construction is completed. You can find a 2D campus map here: westernwyoming.edu/map.   

If you have additional questions about this project, please reach out to Director of Facilities Christopher Dever at cdever@westernwyoming.edu or by calling 307-382-1696.