Original Construction
1887
Size
312,000 sqft
Completion Date
Ongoing
National Historic Landmark

Built in 1887 as a summer resort, The Grand Hotel is the most visited building on historic Mackinac Island, holds international fame for housing the world’s longest porch, and is classified as a National Historic Landmark. Across generations, its owners have worked to preserve its historic charm while providing modern amenities to a vast clientele. Today, the AAA 4-Diamond Hotel welcomes a quarter of a million guests each season to experience its tradition and old-world elegance.

Since 1992, the Musser family has entrusted HopkinsBurns Design Studio to lead over sixty diverse projects for the property. Their work spans from smaller renovations like retail spaces, a golf pro shop, and restaurants on the island to major transformations such as restoring the historic front facade, adding the First Ladies’ Suites, and converting the attic into the Cupola Suites. Most notably, the firm designed a 50,000-square-foot Millennium Wing addition. The hotel is one of the world’s largest wood structures, but the addition had to be cleverly designed in steel and concrete to meet modern building code while staying contextual with the hotel and its historic charm.

HopkinsBurns executes these projects under severe logistical constraints, completing all restoration and construction during the off-season when temperatures drop below zero and the island is accessible only by air or snowmobile. The team is truly honored by the trust the Musser family has placed in them and for the opportunity to be a part of this most special place’s still-unfolding history.