| Hundreds of thousands of Quonset huts were | | | | the arch design of the structure meant that the walls |
| manufactured during World War II. These structures | | | | were curved where they met the floor, it was |
| offered the U.S. military a quick and easily erected | | | | difficult to place furniture and machinery against the |
| option that could be shipped and utilized anywhere. | | | | walls. The structure was later altered to have walls at |
| The U.S. military developed portable iron and wood | | | | 90 degree angles, which eliminated the wasted space |
| Quonset huts after using the Nissan hut designed by | | | | of the original curved wall design. An added bonus of |
| the British during the first World War. The buildings | | | | the new design was that the components of the |
| were initially manufactured in Quonset Point, Rhode | | | | structure disassembled into more pieces and was not |
| Island. Because of their simple yet strong iron arc | | | | as heavy. And the curved arc frame introduced here |
| structure, the huts offered a very efficient use of | | | | is still used by a lot of the current portable steel |
| interior space. The flexibility and simplicity of the huts | | | | building manufacturers. |
| allowed the military to have immediate solid | | | | The same portability and ease of construction |
| structures for medical facilities, vehicle repair shops, | | | | concept that made Quonset huts so invaluable to the |
| barracks and storage. They offered a step up from | | | | U.S. military is why steel buildings are such an |
| the combination of tents and wooden platforms that | | | | attractive option for residential and commercial uses |
| were previously used for such purposes. The | | | | today. Steel buildings can be assembled with a handful |
| Quonset huts produced during the war were sold to | | | | of people without special equipment. Both businesses |
| the general populations for about $1000 each after | | | | and home owners use metal structures for any |
| the war. Since then the military have been | | | | number of uses. They serve as hangars, auto repair |
| manufactured and utilized for a plethora of | | | | shops, hobby shops and equipment storage. They |
| commercial and residential uses. | | | | are more economical than traditional buildings and |
| Quonset huts provided the foundation for the | | | | require little maintenance. |
| modern prefabricated steel building of today. Because | | | | |