What Are Quonset Huts?
01/27/09
Throughout WWII, almost 200,000 Quonset huts were produced in the United States. The Navy spurred the production of so many Quonset huts, because they needed portable sturdy buildings that could be put in place without construction crews. Quonset huts are prefabricated semi circular structures that were modeled after similar structures created by the British in WWI. The buildings were initially manufactured in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Because of their simple yet strong iron arc structure, Quonset huts offered a very efficient use of interior space. The huts were shipped easily to various locations and used for restrooms, living quarters, hospitals, hangars and mess halls. The metal structures were definitely an improvement over the wooden foundation tent structures that had served those functions. After the war, the Quonset huts were sold to the public and started being seen across the country for various civilian uses. Since then, Quonset huts not produced by the military have been manufactured and utilized for a plethora of commercial and residential uses.
The metal buildings you see today had their beginnings in the design of Quonset huts. One of the big problems with the semi circular design on Quonset huts, was that it was difficult to place square items flush to the wall on the floor. The structure was later altered to have walls at 90 degree angles, which eliminated the wasted space of the original curved wall design. An added bonus of the new design was that the components of the structure disassembled into more pieces and was not as heavy. And the curved arc frame introduced by the advent of Quonset huts is still used by a lot of the current portable steel building manufacturers.
How easy it was for unqualified people to put the structures together and the fact that the Quonset huts could be packed up and shipped easily are the qualities that make the metal buildings of today so advantageous for consumers. Like Quonset huts, the current metal buildings are super easy to put together and do not require special tools or knowledge. Steel buildings are used for a wide variety of commercial and residential purposes. They serve as hangars, auto repair shops, hobby shops and equipment storage. The structures offer a very efficient use of space and do not necessitate much time or money to build or maintain. The Quonset huts live on.