What Is a Quonset Hut?

Around SteelMaster, we talk about quonset huts frequently, but what exactly is a quonset hut? The semicircular steel buildings were made popular by the U.S. military during WWII. In 1941, the U.S. Navy needed an all-purpose, lightweight building that could be shipped anywhere and assembled easily without the use of skilled labor. The steel building was first erected at the Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Quonset huts were valuable to the military because of their flexibility. The clear-span interior allowed for them to used as barracks, latrines, offices, medical facilities, isolation wards, and bakeries. In addition, the Navy also discovered that the rounded shape of the corrugated arch is one of the strongest structures in architecture.

That clear-span interior and strength of the structure are two of the main reasons why quonset huts are still popular today. Steel quonset huts have been used for a variety of applications. SteelMaster customers have turned quonset huts into, indoor pole vaulting facilities, homes, office buildings, and agricultural storage just to name a few. The possibilities are truly endless.