How to Produce Office Casework Shop Drawings That Work in the Field

Office casework projects sit at the intersection of architectural millwork and furniture — built-in storage, credenzas, conference room cabinetry, reception desks, and workstation millwork that needs to accommodate people, technology, and code requirements all at once. The drawings that support this work are significantly more complex than residential cabinet sets, and the submittal process adds a layer of review that doesn't exist in residential work.

Our millwork shop drawing services cover commercial office fit-outs of all sizes, from single-suite renovations to multi-floor corporate interiors. Here's what separates a submittable office casework package from one that comes back with a list of comments.

Understanding the Scope: What Counts as Office Casework

The term "office casework" covers a wide range of built-in components. On any given commercial office project, you might see:

• Open office storage: Overhead bins, lateral file pedestals, and storage towers above or beside workstations
• Conference room millwork: Built-in credenzas, AV console cabinetry, and integrated presentation walls
• Break room cabinetry: Upper and lower cabinets, appliance enclosures, and serving counter millwork
• Private office millwork: Custom built-ins, bookcase walls, desk credenzas, and display cases
• Reception and lobby millwork: Reception counters, feature walls, and branded display components

Each of these components has different drawing requirements. Break room cabinetry follows kitchen cabinet conventions. Conference credenzas need AV rough-in coordination. Reception millwork needs dimensional alignment with the architectural design intent and often involves a brand standards review.

AWI Grade Specification and CSI Section Reference

On any commercial project, the drawings must reference the project specification. Office casework typically falls under CSI Section 06 40 00 (Architectural Woodwork) or Section 12 35 53 (Casework). The applicable AWI quality grade — Economy, Custom, or Premium — must be called out on the drawing, not just in the spec book.

AWI Custom grade is the most common specification for commercial office casework and covers the vast majority of work: a 1/8" tolerance on overall dimensions, sanded and filled surfaces suitable for paint or transparent finish, and hardware to industry standards. Premium grade adds tighter tolerances (1/16"), matched grain requirements for transparent finishes, and more rigorous material substrate standards. Unless the spec explicitly calls for Premium, don't assume it — Premium adds cost and time and is typically reserved for high-visibility public-facing millwork.

ADA Compliance Dimensions in Office Casework

ADA requirements apply to any casework at accessible workstations. The core dimensions that must be shown on the drawing:

These dimensions must appear on the drawing itself — in the section view or elevation of the accessible unit — not just referenced in a general note. Reviewers check these callouts specifically, and a missing ADA dimension on an accessible workstation will generate a comment.

Electrical and Data Coordination

Every office casework drawing set needs to coordinate with the electrical and low-voltage drawings. Casework that runs adjacent to or below electrical panels, data closets, or outlet runs needs to show clearances. Built-in workstation millwork with power and data pass-throughs needs grommet locations, cable management chase dimensions, and any required back-panel openings for raceway access.

Standard office grommet sizing is 2.5" to 3" diameter for single-port grommets; 4" for combination power and data grommets. Grommet location on the drawing should be dimensioned from the nearest corner and from the work surface edge — field-placed grommets land in the wrong spot relative to the under-desk power strip, and the installer is left cutting a second hole.

For conference room credenzas with integrated AV equipment, show the equipment rough-in dimensions. A credenza housing an AV processor with a 19" rack mount needs blocking at the right height and a ventilation gap that the drafter needs to know about before the box is built.

Coordination with Structural Blocking and Walls

Commercial office casework is typically wall-hung or secured to the floor structure. Upper cabinets require blocking in the wall — either wood blocking installed during rough framing or a steel ledger. The drawing needs to call out the blocking requirement and its location: "2× blocking at 36"–54" AFF, aligned with upper cabinet mounting rail." If the blocking requirement isn't on the millwork drawing, it may not get communicated to the GC in time to be installed before drywall closes the wall.

In steel-stud construction — the standard in commercial office work — the spacing of the studs matters. A 24" o.c. stud layout may not land where the mounting screws need to go for a cabinet that's 30" or 42" wide. The drawing should note whether the casework mounting can work with standard stud spacing or requires special blocking.

What Goes in the Submittal Package

A complete office casework submittal includes: elevation and section drawings for every unit type, a hardware schedule with manufacturer and model numbers, a material schedule referencing the spec section, finish samples or a finish callout matrix, and a unit schedule that cross-references the drawing number with the room number and unit ID on the architectural drawings.

The unit schedule is frequently missing from first-submission packages, and it's one of the most common reasons a GC sends a package back with a general comment rather than specific redlines. The GC reviewer needs to be able to match your unit "Type A" to the architectural floor plan without guessing. Include the unit schedule even if the architect didn't specifically request it.

For more on navigating the commercial submittal workflow, see our guide on the millwork submittal process. For pricing on commercial casework drawing projects, see our millwork drawing rates.

Frequently Asked Questions