Cupertino Electric is no stranger to cutting-edge ideas. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the demand for private home workspaces skyrocketed. The company took notice and has spent the last two years developing a self-contained, inexpensive option: the Port-a-Office.
“I was at a jobsite one day when I saw someone exit a Port-a-Potty on their cellphone and the idea clicked: why not convert out-of-commission portable toilets into home offices?” said Brandon Gries, director of product management. “We already have the manufacturing infrastructure in place at our Wisconsin facility that builds modular data centers and the blue enclosure was perfectly on-brand. All we needed to do was solve a few customer problems and add a new product to our portfolio.”
At a cost of $5,000 per base unit or a $40 per day rental fee, the Port-a-Office is a great solution for anyone seeking privacy, portability and customization. Each design utilizes the “Vacant/Occupied” toggle on the outside of the unit, includes a customizable name plate, and offers an “in-box” mounted to the exterior to ensure critical documents are never out of reach. Every unit is factory-shipped with complimentary eucalyptus essential oils pre-applied to the interior of the enclosure.
“The design is inherently green by finding new life for out-of-service Port-a-Potties,” said Shannon Richardson, vice president of the Renewables Division at CEI. “We’re happy to help people minimize their footprint and give them a shot at a ‘corner office’ that they can plop down anywhere.”
In addition to the base model, upgrade options include:
- Ceiling-mounted, retractable backgrounds and mounted cell phone holder on the door to enhance online meeting experiences
- Wi-Fi booster hardware that seamlessly integrates into the toilet paper mount area (valid only in the contiguous U.S.)
- 2-window/AC package for improved ventilation and aesthetics
- One-cup coffee warmer that is solar powered using CEI’s 10+ years of renewable project experience
- Pull-down desk made from repurposed baby changing table
- An air diffuser to create an aromatic atmosphere with optional French lavender, pine and cinnamon essential oil package
To buy a portable office unit or to learn more, visit AprilFoolsAtCEI.com.
