The corrugated and rounded arch design of Quonset huts (also known as Q series buildings) makes them a popular choice as storage buildings. Amazingly strong, these buildings have proven resistant to hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes and heavy wind, rain and snow. With no need for supportive beams or trusses, Quonset huts give you 100 percent usable space for purposes as diverse as grain storage and airplane hangars.
Quonset huts, developed at the naval base in Quonset, Rhode Island during World War II, were originally intended to address the need for light housing and storage that could be quickly assembled and torn down in the field with nothing more than hand tools. These huts consisted of steel building panels that were strong enough to protect troops and supplies from the elements.
Unfortunately, the initial Quonset hut design included panels and steel rib frames supported by wooden purlins that prevented effective field use of the buildings as bakeries, showers, dental offices and isolation wards. The design was subsequently modified to its current incarnation of side walls with rounded steel arch roof, thus opening up more usable space in the structure. What added to the appeal of the modified design was that it proved to be even easier to construct and take down in the field. Quonset huts became so popular with military personnel that many of them bought the surplus huts after the war for their personal housing; universities also purchased them for student housing. You can still see them in use around the world today.
The Seabee Museum and Memorial Park in Davisville, Rhode Island contains a display of Quonset huts. This display honors the historic relationship between the Seabees and Quonset huts that has endured since World War II. Today, Quonset huts serve more peaceful uses Farmers find them ideal for grain and crops storage, as their steel construction has proven effective over the years in keeping Mother Nature at bay. That same strong construction makes Quonset huts a good choice for small airplane enthusiasts to house airplanes and store airplane related equipment. Outsourcing the erection of an airplane hangar can incur considerable labor costs. A durable, long lasting airplane hangar with room enough for related equipment storage can be assembled easily and quickly by the airplane owner using the Quonset hut design.