The Versatility of Quonset Huts
Quonset huts, a product of World War II, are an iconic symbol of American life. The Navy Seabees developed Quonset huts from the semi cylindrical British Nissen hut design by adding wooden lining, insulation and tongue and groove wooden flooring. These structures successfully addressed the need for lightweight, portable troop and equipment housing that could be quickly assembled in the field with nothing more than hand tools. Quonset huts were so successful that returning soldiers purchased the surplus for their own post war housing, and universities purchased them for student housing. Some of these huts are still in use today.
The initial Quonset huts design included arched steel rib members constructed in a T design and supported by wooden purlins. Design flaws soon became evident as the military began using Quonset huts for more than just troop housing and equipment storage. These uses included showers, latrines, dental offices, bakeries and isolation wards, but the huts needed special layouts to accommodate these additional uses and related equipment. The original structure was replaced with a design that employed vertical side walls supporting an arched roof; the new setup provided much more usable space.
With no beams or trusses, and 100 percent usable space, the Quonset huts of today serve many purposes. The arched steel construction of a Quonset hut makes it one of the strongest structures in architecture; these huts can withstand the worst of Mother Nature. Because of their strength, farmers find Quonset huts ideal for storing hay, grain, crops and machinery; some even use the huts to house horses and livestock.
Quonset huts also offer an inexpensive alternative for small airplane storage. You can save money on labor costs by constructing your hangar yourself; all huts come with an easy to follow assembly manual that clearly illustrates how to connect the individual steel panels into a structure large enough to house a small airplane and related maintenance equipment. Creating an airplane hanger from a Quonset hut kit is much less expensive than outsourcing the materials and work, yet you still enjoy the same level of security and protection from the elements by using a Quonset hut.
Quonset huts have evolved from combat field housing and storage structures to versatile civilian buildings suitable for just about any purpose. You can purchase Quonset hut kits for backyard workshops and machinery storage and light commercial and industrial structures; a Quonset hut can even be converted into a guest cottage. Accessories like skylights, windows and doors can turn a Quonset hut into a home.
