The Nutritional Healing Center of Ann Arbor is now twice as big.

The center, at 3610 W. Liberty St. in the Lib-Wag Complex, recently expanded to also include the space next door at 3606 W. Liberty St., the former doctor office of Dr. Agatha Atko who vacated the building last summer. The move doubles the center space from 2,500 square feet to 5,000 square feet and adds an additional 10 treatment rooms, bringing the total number to 18, as well as a new waiting area.

“We can see more people, it’ll be easier for patients to bring in friends and families and the chances of them being seen faster are greater,” said owner Dr. Darren Schmidt.

Schmidt said clinicians at his center saw 14,000 patients last year and said the expansion will allow the center to increase its number of patients to up to 34,000 at capacity.

Including Schmidt, the center offers five clinicians who focus on nutrition and chiropractic-based healing techniques, which includes two chiropractors, a pharmacist and a nutrition specialist, all trained in Nutrition Response Testing. Office manager Jessica Bonesteel said the expansion also includes the addition of a new clinician, Dr. Denise Acton, who is the center’s first acupuncturist and naturopath. Bonesteel said the center also has added three new support staff.

“It means that we can help more people with the clinicians that we have to build more practices and see more patients,” she said. “We’re excited about impacting the health of our community for the better.”

This is the third expansion for the center, which first opened in 2000. Schmidt said his first location was a small, shared one-room space on Packard Road. In 2003, he moved to a larger four-room facility at 3100 W. Liberty St., and in 2005 he moved into his present location.

Schmidt signed a five-year lease for the new space and finished construction on it last December, though he said the center is currently finishing work on its interior design.

Building manager Jeff Hutton said the expansion is good for the complex.

“He’s been there for a number of years, he has had a draw to the office complex,” he said. “This will continue on with him expanding, he’s more of a presence there.”

To celebrate its expansion, the center will host an open house from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at its location at 3610 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor. The event will include free health screenings as well as free samples and information from 14 local businesses with a focus on holistic living.

Erica Hobbs is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com business desk at business@annarbor.com.