What Are Quonset Huts?

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by: fredthompson
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Word Count: 400
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 Time: 5:28 PM
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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. The U.S. military developed portable iron and wood Quonset huts after using the Nissan hut designed by the British during the first World War. 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 flexibility and simplicity of the huts allowed the military to have immediate solid structures for medical facilities, vehicle repair shops, barracks and storage. The metal structures were definitely an improvement over the wooden foundation tent structures that had served those functions. The Quonset huts produced during the war were sold to the general populations for about $1000 each after the war. 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 many metal building makers today still utilize the arched construction of the original Quonset huts.
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. Both businesses and home owners use metal structures for any number of uses. 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 are the great grandparents of the metal buildings of today.

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