A type of prefabricated steel building, the Quonset hut was developed by the military during World War II. They are named for Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where they were originally manufactured. Then, as now, they were built using corrugated steel. The huts were light weight, economical, and needed no skilled labor to be assembled.



Nowadays, the Quonset hut is common place in private settings. After World War II, the military sold off its excess Quonset huts to the public, costing one thousand per hut. Since then, the huts have become common place. A few simple design changes have been implemented, like straight walls providing more storage volume, steel replacing the old plywood fronts and backs, and colors other than grey. Quonset hut roofs are still rounded, however, allowing for the same easy maintenance as the original.No worries about cleaning off or repair the roof!

Who uses Quonset huts? They are the practical and cost effective solution for many businesses, farms, and more. The simple arch construction makes them popular. Because of this, all the Quonset hut needs is a roof and two walls. Less parts equals cheaper construction. Putting them together is a snap, too. No professional builders are needed, though some companies provide the service if wanted.

What are some uses of Quonset huts? They make great storage for boats, RVs, tractors, and trucks. For those with small businesses, the huts make great shops with much less overhead than traditional construction. Hobbyists who have the room can also build their own shops for things like pottery and ceramics, furniture reupholstery, car repair, photography dark rooms, and so on. Quonset huts are as well a no brainer for agriculture and can be seen on farms across America. One curiousity of the Quonset hut are those individuals who have made the huts into residential housing. This phenomenon is modern as well as historical. The Great Lakes Steel Corporation, which began manufacturing the Quonset huts in 1943, created its own residential model in 1946 which featured windows on the arch and just enough white picket fencing at the front to make it homey. Recently, as a way to live more green, a few inventive types have even used Quonset huts as "shells" for their underground homes, which need hardly any energy to heat or cool.