diff --git a/pype/maya/lib.py b/pype/maya/lib.py
index fce1772b8e..ee2ef57e34 100644
--- a/pype/maya/lib.py
+++ b/pype/maya/lib.py
@@ -2308,3 +2308,89 @@ def get_attr_in_layer(attr, layer):
                     return value
 
     return cmds.getAttr(attr)
+
+
+def _null(*args):
+    pass
+
+
+class shelf():
+    '''A simple class to build shelves in maya. Since the build method is empty,
+    it should be extended by the derived class to build the necessary shelf
+    elements. By default it creates an empty shelf called "customShelf".'''
+
+    ###########################################################################
+    '''This is an example shelf.'''
+    # class customShelf(_shelf):
+    #     def build(self):
+    #         self.addButon(label="button1")
+    #         self.addButon("button2")
+    #         self.addButon("popup")
+    #         p = cmds.popupMenu(b=1)
+    #         self.addMenuItem(p, "popupMenuItem1")
+    #         self.addMenuItem(p, "popupMenuItem2")
+    #         sub = self.addSubMenu(p, "subMenuLevel1")
+    #         self.addMenuItem(sub, "subMenuLevel1Item1")
+    #         sub2 = self.addSubMenu(sub, "subMenuLevel2")
+    #         self.addMenuItem(sub2, "subMenuLevel2Item1")
+    #         self.addMenuItem(sub2, "subMenuLevel2Item2")
+    #         self.addMenuItem(sub, "subMenuLevel1Item2")
+    #         self.addMenuItem(p, "popupMenuItem3")
+    #         self.addButon("button3")
+    # customShelf()
+    ###########################################################################
+
+    def __init__(self, name="customShelf", iconPath="", preset={}):
+        self.name = name
+
+        self.iconPath = iconPath
+
+        self.labelBackground = (0, 0, 0, 0)
+        self.labelColour = (.9, .9, .9)
+
+        self.preset = preset
+
+        self._cleanOldShelf()
+        cmds.setParent(self.name)
+        self.build()
+
+    def build(self):
+        '''This method should be overwritten in derived classes to actually
+        build the shelf elements. Otherwise, nothing is added to the shelf.'''
+        for item in self.preset['items']:
+            if not item.get('command'):
+                item['command'] = self._null
+            if item['type'] == 'button':
+                self.addButon(item['name'], command=item['command'])
+            if item['type'] == 'menuItem':
+                self.addMenuItem(item['parent'], item['name'], command=item['command'])
+            if item['type'] == 'subMenu':
+                self.addMenuItem(item['parent'], item['name'], command=item['command'])
+
+    def addButon(self, label, icon="commandButton.png", command=_null, doubleCommand=_null):
+        '''Adds a shelf button with the specified label, command, double click command and image.'''
+        cmds.setParent(self.name)
+        if icon:
+            icon = self.iconPath + icon
+        cmds.shelfButton(width=37, height=37, image=icon, l=label, command=command, dcc=doubleCommand, imageOverlayLabel=label, olb=self.labelBackground, olc=self.labelColour)
+
+    def addMenuItem(self, parent, label, command=_null, icon=""):
+        '''Adds a shelf button with the specified label, command, double click command and image.'''
+        if icon:
+            icon = self.iconPath + icon
+        return cmds.menuItem(p=parent, l=label, c=command, i="")
+
+    def addSubMenu(self, parent, label, icon=None):
+        '''Adds a sub menu item with the specified label and icon to the specified parent popup menu.'''
+        if icon:
+            icon = self.iconPath + icon
+        return cmds.menuItem(p=parent, l=label, i=icon, subMenu=1)
+
+    def _cleanOldShelf(self):
+        '''Checks if the shelf exists and empties it if it does or creates it if it does not.'''
+        if cmds.shelfLayout(self.name, ex=1):
+            if cmds.shelfLayout(self.name, q=1, ca=1):
+                for each in cmds.shelfLayout(self.name, q=1, ca=1):
+                    cmds.deleteUI(each)
+        else:
+            cmds.shelfLayout(self.name, p="ShelfLayout")
diff --git a/setup/maya/userSetup.py b/setup/maya/userSetup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bb346397c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/setup/maya/userSetup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import os
+import sys
+from pypeapp import config
+from pype.maya import lib
+reload(lib)
+
+presets = config.get_presets()
+shelf_preset = presets['maya']['project_shelf']
+project = os.environ["AVALON_PROJECT"]
+
+modules = {}
+for k, v in shelf_preset['imports'].items():
+    sys.modules[k] = __import__(v, fromlist=[project])
+
+projectShelf = lib.shelf(name=shelf_preset['name'], preset=shelf_preset)