The Origins of the Quonset Hut

During World War I, the U.S. military got a good working look at a style of building known as Nissen huts, which were used by British as barracks. Their unique structure consisted of a ribbed skeleton covered with a thin, flexible metal skin. When fully constructed, they look like a cylinder cut in half and laying on the ground. They were lightweight, easy to transport, easy to put up and easy to break down.
When the U.S. Navy needed a building that was easy to ship and easy to put up without any skilled labor, they turned to the design of the Nissen buildings. The original Quonset buildings were made of steel with a galvanized coating. Later, the military started painting them olive drab or camouflage to make them more difficult for the enemy to see from the air. It wasn’t just the exterior and the strength of the arch design that the Navy liked, though. The construction method used left the interior completely unobstructed because there is no need for support posts, which allowed for virtually unlimited floor plans. Over the course of the war – and others that followed – these versatile steel buildings served as barracks, mess tents, command centers and just about every other purpose possible.
When the war ended, the military was left with hundreds upon hundreds of surplus Quonset buildings, many of which were sold for scrap – but at least as many were purchased by civilians for other uses, such as agricultural uses. The same wide-open interiors that made these steel buildings attractive to the Navy also made them ideal for use as barns, heavy equipment storage, grain storage, airplane hangars and so many other purposes.
Of course, the old-fashioned Quonset buildings weren’t the most attractive structures ever erected, so while farmers and industrial owners adopted them widely, steel buildings were not very popular with the general public – until recently. Today, steel buildings are as attractive as they are function. Many of the styles chosen for use as garages and residential storage sheds are based on the old Quonset buildings, but with modifications, such as pitched roofs and straight walls, that make them more aesthetically appealing.
If you’re in the market for a new garage, storage building or just about any other type of structure, consider the features and benefits offered by steel buildings for your project.