Shop Drawing Review: What Architects Actually Check
When a contractor submits a shop drawing, it is not just a piece of paper. It is a detailed, fabricator-prepared document that shows exactly how a product or element will be built. For an architect acting as design manager, reviewing these drawings is one of the most important responsibilities during construction. Yet it is also one of the most misunderstood.
What is a Shop Drawing?
A shop drawing is a working document produced by a subcontractor, supplier, or fabricator. It translates the design intent from the contract drawings into practical fabrication and installation instructions. Common examples include structural steel connection details, precast concrete panel layouts, window and curtain wall elevations, joinery drawings, and mechanical or hydraulic schematics. Unlike contract drawings, which communicate what is designed, shop drawings show how it will be made and installed.
What the Architect is Actually Checking
Approving a shop drawing is not the same as endorsing every dimension or confirming every specification. The architect is checking that the proposed solution is consistent with the design intent. Key items include: confirmation that materials and finishes match the specification, that the proposed layout and dimensions align with the contract drawings, that fixing methods, tolerances, and interfaces with adjacent elements are appropriate, and that the overall appearance is consistent with the design concept. The architect is not responsible for verifying fabrication accuracy or construction methods — those remain the contractor’s responsibility.
The Consequences of Poor Review
When shop drawings are not reviewed carefully, or when they are approved without proper consideration, the consequences can be significant. A subcontractor may install a window system that technically fits but clashes with the adjacent facade material. A joinery supplier may produce cabinetry in the wrong finish because the specification was ambiguous and no one caught it. Or structural steel may be detailed in a way that is buildable but alters the aesthetic of an exposed connection. Poor shop drawing review is one of the most common causes of expensive late-stage variations and client dissatisfaction.
Emanuel Solomovic is a registered architect in NSW (Reg. No. 7154) providing design management services for residential and mixed-use projects. Contact us to discuss how we can support your next project.