ANN ARBOR, MI - For two-and-a-half years, the Ann Arbor Art Center had been looking for the ideal situation and location to expand its offerings.

It turns out that location was right next door. The Ann Arbor Art Center has purchased 115 W. Liberty St., adjacent to its existing 117 W. Liberty location. The art center closed Dec. 15 on the acquisition.

The building's previous owner, Rabun Group LLC, purchased the four parcels that make up the building over the course of six months in 2016, spending a total of $3.04 million, according to city tax records.

The art center has raised more than $1 million toward a $4 million capital campaign to finance the purchase and renovation of the space, which will provide approximately 5,700 additional square feet to help it expand its programs and exhibits.

Ann Arbor Art Center Executive Director Marie Klopf said the art center had looked into other locations, but the 115 W. Liberty location will allow it to expand its offerings more seamlessly.

"The reason this is the perfect space and the perfect solution is because we're able to leverage the resources we already have," Klopf said. "Had we selected a space that was off-site or in a different location, you would have to add more staff, there would be (additional) utilities. This is a great way to leverage what we currently have and very efficiently expand programming."

The expansion will enable the art center to offer additional programming, exhibitions, artist talks, art parties and increased community space. The art center also is considering including an artist-in-residency program, Klopf noted.

Primarily, Klopf said the expansion will allow many of the people in the community who are trying to use the art center the opportunity to do so.

"In the last 12 months, we've had 300 people on a wait list that we can't get in the building for the existing programs that we offer," Klopf said. "So being able to offer more of the programs we offer now and being able to provide a better experience for those programs are the priorities."

The 117 and 115 W. Liberty buildings were designed by the Walker brothers in 1886 and 1893, respectively. C. Walker and Brother, also known as the Ann Arbor Carriage Works, closed in 1921. In 1989 both buildings were designated as part of the Ann Arbor Main Street Historic District. The Art Center relocated to 117 W. Liberty in 1975.

Construction financing is being led by Ann Arbor State Bank and will include participation from Bank of Ann Arbor.

Specific ideas on how to use the new space have not been finalized. The art center will get a better idea of how it can use that space and how to make it flexible for the people who use and rent the space.

"Honestly, I was so focused on the closing of the building that I hadn't thought about the next phase of all the things that needed to be done," Klopf said. "I just want to get through the holidays and then we can think about what are the next steps and what are the additional things that need to be taken care of."