Nobody puts Peloton in a corner. Except that was likely the only option, as fitness practices moved from public to private spaces seemingly overnight in 2020. By August 2021, California-based Cerca could offer a significant upgrade: a standalone, state-of-the-art, at-home fitness studio.
“This is for someone wanting to add space to their home, without having to do expensive home additions, permits, and inspections through the city,” says Cerca Co-founder Ohad Einbinder, whose ready-made living spaces start at 54 square feet ($18,900). “Building the structure as a small shed can help you bypass a lot of that,” he says. Except “shed” is not what comes to mind when you see a Cerca structure.
Einbinder, an inventor at heart, previously manufactured consumer electronics. Noticing inefficiencies throughout the residential construction industry, he started looking into prefab housing. “I noticed flaws in the prefab world as well. Most companies offer modules that must be transported expensively as a wide load and a heavy load, and then craned onto specific locations,” he says. “On top of that, you’re very limited with the dimensions, which must not exceed the height of, say, an overpass or a bridge.” Einbinder, who hopes to bring Cerca units into shopping mall showrooms to sell like Tesla cars, has solved the construction headaches of stick-built homes.
To limit transportation and installation costs, and expand the flexibility of available floor plans, Cerca manufactures flat panels that are fully finished at the factory with insulation and electrical conduits. The panels can be transported on a standard flatbed to the work site, where only assembly and paint (no construction) is needed—eliminating the need for specialized labor. “No other company is finishing panels fully at the factory from the inside out,” says Einbinder. “Cerca specs are incredibly detailed, ensuring our recommended installers or any general contractor plus an electrician will complete the project with no problems.” Prior to delivery, homeowners can choose to install ground screws or work with a contractor of their choice to put down a slab.
The design flexibility of the panels allows for units to have vaulted 12-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that fill interiors—used as fitness studios, home offices, even music studios—with natural sunlight. On a sunny day, fold back double doors to let fresh air in. To protect from the elements, exteriors clad in thermally modified wood are both termite and mold resistant. Many cities allow homeowners to add up to 120 square feet without pulling permits, but dimensions vary by location. Without permits, it’s possible to place an order and in less than two months be working out in your state-of-the-art Cerca gym.
“The walls are load bearing, since all of our structures are made out of steel,” says Einbinder of the company’s flagship 120-square-foot Sela model ($27,900) and the 480-square-foot Adam ($80,000). “You can hang a punching bag, or a chin-up bar for pull-ups, and surround-sound speakers.” Aftermarket customization options are endless, from interior mirrors and ballet bars to weight racks and high-impact flooring.
In the Bay Area, Lafayette Tennis Club commissioned a 1,000-square-foot Cerca building with a staircase up to a rooftop patio. The new gym will have space for members to do yoga, TRX, and Pilates, run on the treadmill, lift weights, and ride either of two Pelotons looking out over the club’s swimming pool. cercasheds.com
