diff --git a/src/demo-app/sidenav/sidenav-demo.html b/src/demo-app/sidenav/sidenav-demo.html
index 10da18a0fa3..bdddd69c381 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/sidenav/sidenav-demo.html
+++ b/src/demo-app/sidenav/sidenav-demo.html
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     <input #myinput>
   </md-sidenav>
 
-  <md-sidenav #end align="end">
+  <md-sidenav #end position="end">
     End Side Drawer
     <br>
     <button md-button (click)="end.close()">Close</button>
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@
   </div>
 </md-sidenav-container>
 
-<h2>Dynamic Alignment Sidenav</h2>
+<h2>Dynamic Position Sidenav</h2>
 
 <md-sidenav-container class="demo-sidenav-container">
-  <md-sidenav #dynamicAlignSidenav1 mode="side" [align]="invert ? 'end' : 'start'">Start</md-sidenav>
-  <md-sidenav #dynamicAlignSidenav2 mode="side" [align]="invert ? 'start' : 'end'">End</md-sidenav>
+  <md-sidenav #dynamicPosSidenav1 mode="side" [position]="invert ? 'end' : 'start'">Start</md-sidenav>
+  <md-sidenav #dynamicPosSidenav2 mode="side" [position]="invert ? 'start' : 'end'">End</md-sidenav>
 
   <div class="demo-sidenav-content">
-    <button (click)="dynamicAlignSidenav1.toggle(); dynamicAlignSidenav2.toggle()">
+    <button (click)="dynamicPosSidenav1.toggle(); dynamicPosSidenav2.toggle()">
       Toggle sidenavs
     </button>
     <button (click)="invert = !invert">Change sides</button>
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/README.md b/src/lib/sidenav/README.md
index 850d6328a92..6c4e057b526 100644
--- a/src/lib/sidenav/README.md
+++ b/src/lib/sidenav/README.md
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ The sidenav panel.
 
 | Name | Type | Description |
 | --- | --- | --- |
-| `align` | `"start"\|"end"` | The alignment of this sidenav. In LTR direction, `"start"` will be shown on the left, `"end"` on the right. In RTL, it is reversed. `"start"` is used by default. If there is more than 1 sidenav on either side the container will be considered invalid and none of the sidenavs will be visible or toggleable until the container is valid again. |
+| `position` | `"start"\|"end"` | The position of this sidenav. In LTR direction, `"start"` will be shown on the left, `"end"` on the right. In RTL, it is reversed. `"start"` is used by default. If there is more than 1 sidenav on either side the container will be considered invalid and none of the sidenavs will be visible or toggleable until the container is valid again. |
 | `mode` | `"over"\|"push"\|"side"` | The mode or styling of the sidenav, default being `"over"`. With `"over"` the sidenav will appear above the content, and a backdrop will be shown. With `"push"` the sidenav will push the content of the `<md-sidenav-container>` to the side, and show a backdrop over it. `"side"` will resize the content and keep the sidenav opened. Clicking the backdrop will close sidenavs that do not have `mode="side"`. |
 | `opened` | `boolean` | Whether or not the sidenav is opened. Use this binding to open/close the sidenav. |
 
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ Here's a simple example of using the sidenav:
       <br>
       <button md-button #closeStartButton (click)="start.close()">Close</button>
     </md-sidenav>
-    <md-sidenav #end align="end">
+    <md-sidenav #end position="end">
       End Sidenav.
       <button md-button (click)="end.close()">Close</button>
     </md-sidenav>
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/_sidenav-theme.scss b/src/lib/sidenav/_sidenav-theme.scss
index 4955c78f194..380604bb0ae 100644
--- a/src/lib/sidenav/_sidenav-theme.scss
+++ b/src/lib/sidenav/_sidenav-theme.scss
@@ -12,27 +12,27 @@
   // We use invert() here to have the darken the background color expected to be used. If the
   // background is light, we use a dark backdrop. If the background is dark,
   // we use a light backdrop.
-  $sidenav-backdrop-color: invert(mat-color($background, card, 0.6)) !default;
-  $sidenav-background-color: mat-color($background, dialog) !default;
-  $sidenav-container-background-color:  mat-color($background, background) !default;
-  $sidenav-push-background-color: mat-color($background, dialog) !default;
+  $drawer-backdrop-color: invert(mat-color($background, card, 0.6)) !default;
+  $drawer-background-color: mat-color($background, dialog) !default;
+  $drawer-container-background-color:  mat-color($background, background) !default;
+  $drawer-push-background-color: mat-color($background, dialog) !default;
 
-  .mat-sidenav-container {
-    background-color: $sidenav-container-background-color;
+  .mat-drawer-container {
+    background-color: $drawer-container-background-color;
     color: mat-color($foreground, text);
   }
 
-  .mat-sidenav {
-    background-color: $sidenav-background-color;
+  .mat-drawer {
+    background-color: $drawer-background-color;
     color: mat-color($foreground, text);
 
-    &.mat-sidenav-push {
-      background-color: $sidenav-push-background-color;
+    &.mat-drawer-push {
+      background-color: $drawer-push-background-color;
     }
   }
 
-  .mat-sidenav-backdrop.mat-sidenav-shown {
-    background-color: $sidenav-backdrop-color;
+  .mat-drawer-backdrop.mat-drawer-shown {
+    background-color: $drawer-backdrop-color;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/drawer-container.html b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer-container.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f305c0545a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer-container.html
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+<div class="mat-drawer-backdrop" (click)="_onBackdropClicked()"
+     [class.mat-drawer-shown]="_isShowingBackdrop()"></div>
+
+<ng-content select="md-drawer, mat-drawer, md-sidenav, mat-sidenav"></ng-content>
+
+<div class="mat-drawer-content" [ngStyle]="_styles" cdk-scrollable>
+  <ng-content></ng-content>
+</div>
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav-transitions.scss b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer-transitions.scss
similarity index 80%
rename from src/lib/sidenav/sidenav-transitions.scss
rename to src/lib/sidenav/drawer-transitions.scss
index cbbbd9e0c47..f14d83784f2 100644
--- a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav-transitions.scss
+++ b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer-transitions.scss
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 // Separate transitions to be able to disable them in unit tests by omitting this file.
 @import '../core/style/variables';
 
-.mat-sidenav-transition {
-  .mat-sidenav-content {
+.mat-drawer-transition {
+  .mat-drawer-content {
     transition: {
       duration: $swift-ease-out-duration;
       timing-function: $swift-ease-out-timing-function;
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     }
   }
 
-  .mat-sidenav-backdrop.mat-sidenav-shown {
+  .mat-drawer-backdrop.mat-drawer-shown {
     transition: background-color $swift-ease-out-duration $swift-ease-out-timing-function;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.html b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer.html
similarity index 100%
rename from src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.html
rename to src/lib/sidenav/drawer.html
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.scss b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer.scss
similarity index 75%
rename from src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.scss
rename to src/lib/sidenav/drawer.scss
index 23d300baed5..26800af1f25 100644
--- a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.scss
+++ b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer.scss
@@ -7,19 +7,19 @@
 // Mixin that creates a new stacking context.
 // see https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/CSS_Positioning/Understanding_z_index/The_stacking_context
 // stylelint-enable
-@mixin mat-sidenav-stacking-context() {
+@mixin mat-drawer-stacking-context() {
   position: relative;
 
   // Use a transform to create a new stacking context.
   transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
 }
 
-.mat-sidenav-container {
+.mat-drawer-container {
   // We need a stacking context here so that the backdrop and drawers are clipped to the
-  // MdSidenavContainer. This creates a new z-index stack so we use low numbered z-indices.
-  // We create another stacking context in the '.mat-sidenav-content' and in each sidenav so that
+  // MdDrawerContainer. This creates a new z-index stack so we use low numbered z-indices.
+  // We create another stacking context in the '.mat-drawer-content' and in each drawer so that
   // the application content does not get messed up with our own CSS.
-  @include mat-sidenav-stacking-context();
+  @include mat-drawer-stacking-context();
 
   box-sizing: border-box;
   -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
@@ -27,20 +27,20 @@
   // Need this to take up space in the layout.
   display: block;
 
-  // Hide the sidenavs when they're closed.
+  // Hide the drawers when they're closed.
   overflow: hidden;
 
   // TODO(hansl): Update this with a more robust solution.
   &[fullscreen] {
     @include mat-fill();
 
-    &.mat-sidenav-opened {
+    &.mat-drawer-opened {
       overflow: hidden;
     }
   }
 }
 
-.mat-sidenav-backdrop {
+.mat-drawer-backdrop {
   @include mat-fill();
 
   display: block;
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
   // section.
   visibility: hidden;
 
-  &.mat-sidenav-shown {
+  &.mat-drawer-shown {
     visibility: visible;
   }
 
@@ -64,16 +64,16 @@
   }
 }
 
-.mat-sidenav-content {
-  @include mat-sidenav-stacking-context();
+.mat-drawer-content {
+  @include mat-drawer-stacking-context();
 
   display: block;
   height: 100%;
   overflow: auto;
 }
 
-.mat-sidenav {
-  @include mat-sidenav-stacking-context();
+.mat-drawer {
+  @include mat-drawer-stacking-context();
 
   display: block;
   position: absolute;
@@ -84,14 +84,14 @@
   outline: 0;
   box-sizing: border-box;
   height: 100%;
-  overflow-y: auto; // TODO(kara): revisit scrolling behavior for sidenavs
+  overflow-y: auto; // TODO(kara): revisit scrolling behavior for drawers
   transform: translate3d(-100%, 0, 0);
 
-  &.mat-sidenav-side {
+  &.mat-drawer-side {
     z-index: 1;
   }
 
-  &.mat-sidenav-end {
+  &.mat-drawer-end {
     right: 0;
     transform: translate3d(100%, 0, 0);
   }
@@ -99,15 +99,15 @@
   [dir='rtl'] & {
     transform: translate3d(100%, 0, 0);
 
-    &.mat-sidenav-end {
+    &.mat-drawer-end {
       left: 0;
       right: auto;
       transform: translate3d(-100%, 0, 0);
     }
   }
 
-  &.mat-sidenav-opening, &.mat-sidenav-opened {
-    &:not(.mat-sidenav-side) {
+  &.mat-drawer-opening, &.mat-drawer-opened {
+    &:not(.mat-drawer-side) {
       // The elevation of z-16 is noted in the design specifications.
       // See https://material.io/guidelines/patterns/navigation-drawer.html#
       @include mat-elevation(16);
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.spec.ts b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer.spec.ts
similarity index 54%
rename from src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.spec.ts
rename to src/lib/sidenav/drawer.spec.ts
index b0c3d316a19..6d0a5171a06 100644
--- a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer.spec.ts
@@ -2,24 +2,24 @@ import {fakeAsync, async, tick, ComponentFixture, TestBed} from '@angular/core/t
 import {Component, ElementRef, ViewChild} from '@angular/core';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import {NoopAnimationsModule} from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
+import {MdDrawer, MdSidenavModule, MdDrawerContainer} from './index';
 import {A11yModule} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
 import {PlatformModule} from '@angular/cdk/platform';
 import {ESCAPE} from '@angular/cdk/keycodes';
 import {dispatchKeyboardEvent} from '@angular/cdk/testing';
-import {MdSidenav, MdSidenavModule, MdSidenavContainer} from './index';
 
 
-describe('MdSidenav', () => {
+describe('MdDrawer', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [MdSidenavModule, A11yModule, PlatformModule, NoopAnimationsModule],
       declarations: [
         BasicTestApp,
-        SidenavContainerNoSidenavTestApp,
-        SidenavSetToOpenedFalse,
-        SidenavSetToOpenedTrue,
-        SidenavDynamicAlign,
-        SidenavWitFocusableElements,
+        DrawerContainerNoDrawerTestApp,
+        DrawerSetToOpenedFalse,
+        DrawerSetToOpenedTrue,
+        DrawerDynamicPosition,
+        DrawerWitFocusableElements,
       ],
     });
 
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
       let testComponent: BasicTestApp = fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
-      let sidenav = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdSidenav));
-      let sidenavBackdropElement = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mat-sidenav-backdrop'));
+      let drawer = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdDrawer));
+      let drawerBackdropElement = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mat-drawer-backdrop'));
 
       fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.open')).nativeElement.click();
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -45,11 +45,11 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
       tick();
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      expect(sidenav.componentInstance._isAnimating).toBe(false);
+      expect(drawer.componentInstance._isAnimating).toBe(false);
       expect(testComponent.openCount).toBe(1);
       expect(testComponent.closeCount).toBe(0);
-      expect(getComputedStyle(sidenav.nativeElement).visibility).toBe('visible');
-      expect(getComputedStyle(sidenavBackdropElement.nativeElement).visibility).toBe('visible');
+      expect(getComputedStyle(drawer.nativeElement).visibility).toBe('visible');
+      expect(getComputedStyle(drawerBackdropElement.nativeElement).visibility).toBe('visible');
 
       fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.close')).nativeElement.click();
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
 
       expect(testComponent.openCount).toBe(1);
       expect(testComponent.closeCount).toBe(1);
-      expect(getComputedStyle(sidenav.nativeElement).visibility).toBe('hidden');
-      expect(getComputedStyle(sidenavBackdropElement.nativeElement).visibility).toBe('hidden');
+      expect(getComputedStyle(drawer.nativeElement).visibility).toBe('hidden');
+      expect(getComputedStyle(drawerBackdropElement.nativeElement).visibility).toBe('hidden');
     }));
 
-    it('does not throw when created without a sidenav', fakeAsync(() => {
+    it('does not throw when created without a drawer', fakeAsync(() => {
       expect(() => {
         let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(BasicTestApp);
         fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
 
       expect(testComponent.backdropClickedCount).toBe(0);
 
-      fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mat-sidenav-backdrop')).nativeElement.click();
+      fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mat-drawer-backdrop')).nativeElement.click();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
@@ -108,16 +108,16 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
       let testComponent: BasicTestApp = fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
-      let sidenav = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdSidenav));
+      let drawer = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdDrawer));
 
-      sidenav.componentInstance.open();
+      drawer.componentInstance.open();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
       expect(testComponent.openCount).toBe(1, 'Expected one open event.');
       expect(testComponent.closeCount).toBe(0, 'Expected no close events.');
 
-      dispatchKeyboardEvent(sidenav.nativeElement, 'keydown', ESCAPE);
+      dispatchKeyboardEvent(drawer.nativeElement, 'keydown', ESCAPE);
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
@@ -127,14 +127,14 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
     it('should not close by pressing escape when disableClose is set', fakeAsync(() => {
       let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(BasicTestApp);
       let testComponent = fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
-      let sidenav = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdSidenav));
+      let drawer = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdDrawer));
 
-      sidenav.componentInstance.disableClose = true;
-      sidenav.componentInstance.open();
+      drawer.componentInstance.disableClose = true;
+      drawer.componentInstance.open();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
-      dispatchKeyboardEvent(sidenav.nativeElement, 'keydown', ESCAPE);
+      dispatchKeyboardEvent(drawer.nativeElement, 'keydown', ESCAPE);
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
@@ -144,36 +144,36 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
     it('should not close by clicking on the backdrop when disableClose is set', fakeAsync(() => {
       let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(BasicTestApp);
       let testComponent = fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
-      let sidenav = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdSidenav)).componentInstance;
+      let drawer = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdDrawer)).componentInstance;
 
-      sidenav.disableClose = true;
-      sidenav.open();
+      drawer.disableClose = true;
+      drawer.open();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
-      fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mat-sidenav-backdrop')).nativeElement.click();
+      fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mat-drawer-backdrop')).nativeElement.click();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
       expect(testComponent.closeCount).toBe(0);
     }));
 
-    it('should restore focus on close if focus is inside sidenav', fakeAsync(() => {
+    it('should restore focus on close if focus is inside drawer', fakeAsync(() => {
       let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(BasicTestApp);
 
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      let sidenav = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdSidenav)).componentInstance;
+      let drawer = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdDrawer)).componentInstance;
       let openButton = fixture.componentInstance.openButton.nativeElement;
-      let sidenavButton = fixture.componentInstance.sidenavButton.nativeElement;
+      let drawerButton = fixture.componentInstance.drawerButton.nativeElement;
 
       openButton.focus();
-      sidenav.open();
+      drawer.open();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
-      sidenavButton.focus();
+      drawerButton.focus();
 
-      sidenav.close();
+      drawer.close();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
@@ -181,21 +181,21 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
           .toBe(openButton, 'Expected focus to be restored to the open button on close.');
     }));
 
-    it('should not restore focus on close if focus is outside sidenav', fakeAsync(() => {
+    it('should not restore focus on close if focus is outside drawer', fakeAsync(() => {
       let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(BasicTestApp);
-      let sidenav: MdSidenav = fixture.debugElement
-          .query(By.directive(MdSidenav)).componentInstance;
+      let drawer: MdDrawer = fixture.debugElement
+          .query(By.directive(MdDrawer)).componentInstance;
       let openButton = fixture.componentInstance.openButton.nativeElement;
       let closeButton = fixture.componentInstance.closeButton.nativeElement;
 
       openButton.focus();
-      sidenav.open();
+      drawer.open();
 
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
       closeButton.focus();
 
-      sidenav.close();
+      drawer.close();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
@@ -206,68 +206,68 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
 
   describe('attributes', () => {
     it('should correctly parse opened="false"', () => {
-      let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SidenavSetToOpenedFalse);
+      let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DrawerSetToOpenedFalse);
 
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      let sidenav = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdSidenav)).componentInstance;
+      let drawer = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdDrawer)).componentInstance;
 
-      expect((sidenav as MdSidenav).opened).toBe(false);
+      expect((drawer as MdDrawer).opened).toBe(false);
     });
 
     it('should correctly parse opened="true"', () => {
-      let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SidenavSetToOpenedTrue);
+      let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DrawerSetToOpenedTrue);
 
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      let sidenav = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdSidenav)).componentInstance;
+      let drawer = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdDrawer)).componentInstance;
 
-      expect((sidenav as MdSidenav).opened).toBe(true);
+      expect((drawer as MdDrawer).opened).toBe(true);
     });
 
     it('should remove align attr from DOM', () => {
       const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(BasicTestApp);
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      const sidenavEl = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('md-sidenav')).nativeElement;
-      expect(sidenavEl.hasAttribute('align'))
-          .toBe(false, 'Expected sidenav not to have a native align attribute.');
+      const drawerEl = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('md-drawer')).nativeElement;
+      expect(drawerEl.hasAttribute('align'))
+          .toBe(false, 'Expected drawer not to have a native align attribute.');
     });
 
-    it('should throw when multiple sidenavs have the same align', fakeAsync(() => {
-      const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SidenavDynamicAlign);
+    it('should throw when multiple drawers have the same position', fakeAsync(() => {
+      const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DrawerDynamicPosition);
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
-      const testComponent: SidenavDynamicAlign = fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
-      testComponent.sidenav1Align = 'end';
+      const testComponent: DrawerDynamicPosition = fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
+      testComponent.drawer1Position = 'end';
 
       expect(() => fixture.detectChanges()).toThrow();
     }));
 
-    it('should not throw when sidenavs swap sides', () => {
-      const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SidenavDynamicAlign);
+    it('should not throw when drawers swap positions', () => {
+      const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DrawerDynamicPosition);
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      const testComponent: SidenavDynamicAlign = fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
-      testComponent.sidenav1Align = 'end';
-      testComponent.sidenav2Align = 'start';
+      const testComponent: DrawerDynamicPosition = fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
+      testComponent.drawer1Position = 'end';
+      testComponent.drawer2Position = 'start';
 
       expect(() => fixture.detectChanges()).not.toThrow();
     });
   });
 
   describe('focus trapping behavior', () => {
-    let fixture: ComponentFixture<SidenavWitFocusableElements>;
-    let testComponent: SidenavWitFocusableElements;
-    let sidenav: MdSidenav;
+    let fixture: ComponentFixture<DrawerWitFocusableElements>;
+    let testComponent: DrawerWitFocusableElements;
+    let drawer: MdDrawer;
     let firstFocusableElement: HTMLElement;
     let lastFocusableElement: HTMLElement;
 
     beforeEach(() => {
-      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SidenavWitFocusableElements);
+      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DrawerWitFocusableElements);
       testComponent = fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
-      sidenav = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdSidenav)).componentInstance;
+      drawer = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MdDrawer)).componentInstance;
       firstFocusableElement = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.link1')).nativeElement;
       lastFocusableElement = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.link1')).nativeElement;
       lastFocusableElement.focus();
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
       testComponent.mode = 'over';
       lastFocusableElement.focus();
 
-      sidenav.open();
+      drawer.open();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
       testComponent.mode = 'push';
       lastFocusableElement.focus();
 
-      sidenav.open();
+      drawer.open();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
       testComponent.mode = 'side';
       lastFocusableElement.focus();
 
-      sidenav.open();
+      drawer.open();
       fixture.detectChanges();
       tick();
 
@@ -308,53 +308,53 @@ describe('MdSidenav', () => {
   });
 });
 
-describe('MdSidenavContainer', () => {
+describe('MdDrawerContainer', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [MdSidenavModule, A11yModule, PlatformModule, NoopAnimationsModule],
-      declarations: [SidenavContainerTwoSidenavTestApp, SidenavDelayed],
+      declarations: [DrawerContainerTwoDrawerTestApp, DrawerDelayed],
     });
 
     TestBed.compileComponents();
   }));
 
-  it('should be able to open and close all sidenavs', fakeAsync(() => {
-    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SidenavContainerTwoSidenavTestApp);
+  it('should be able to open and close all drawers', fakeAsync(() => {
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DrawerContainerTwoDrawerTestApp);
 
     fixture.detectChanges();
 
-    const testComponent: SidenavContainerTwoSidenavTestApp =
+    const testComponent: DrawerContainerTwoDrawerTestApp =
       fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
-    const sidenavs = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(By.directive(MdSidenav));
+    const drawers = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(By.directive(MdDrawer));
 
-    expect(sidenavs.every(sidenav => sidenav.componentInstance.opened)).toBe(false);
+    expect(drawers.every(drawer => drawer.componentInstance.opened)).toBe(false);
 
-    testComponent.sidenavContainer.open();
+    testComponent.drawerContainer.open();
     fixture.detectChanges();
     tick();
 
-    expect(sidenavs.every(sidenav => sidenav.componentInstance.opened)).toBe(true);
+    expect(drawers.every(drawer => drawer.componentInstance.opened)).toBe(true);
 
-    testComponent.sidenavContainer.close();
+    testComponent.drawerContainer.close();
     fixture.detectChanges();
     tick();
 
-    expect(sidenavs.every(sidenav => sidenav.componentInstance.opened)).toBe(false);
+    expect(drawers.every(drawer => drawer.componentInstance.opened)).toBe(false);
   }));
 
-  it('should animate the content when a sidenav is added at a later point', fakeAsync(() => {
-    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SidenavDelayed);
+  it('should animate the content when a drawer is added at a later point', fakeAsync(() => {
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DrawerDelayed);
 
     fixture.detectChanges();
 
-    const contentElement = fixture.debugElement.nativeElement.querySelector('.mat-sidenav-content');
+    const contentElement = fixture.debugElement.nativeElement.querySelector('.mat-drawer-content');
 
     expect(parseInt(contentElement.style.marginLeft)).toBeFalsy();
 
-    fixture.componentInstance.showSidenav = true;
+    fixture.componentInstance.showDrawer = true;
     fixture.detectChanges();
 
-    fixture.componentInstance.sidenav.open();
+    fixture.componentInstance.drawer.open();
     fixture.detectChanges();
     tick();
     fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -364,41 +364,41 @@ describe('MdSidenavContainer', () => {
 });
 
 
-/** Test component that contains an MdSidenavContainer but no MdSidenav. */
-@Component({template: `<md-sidenav-container></md-sidenav-container>`})
-class SidenavContainerNoSidenavTestApp { }
+/** Test component that contains an MdDrawerContainer but no MdDrawer. */
+@Component({template: `<md-drawer-container></md-drawer-container>`})
+class DrawerContainerNoDrawerTestApp { }
 
-/** Test component that contains an MdSidenavContainer and 2 MdSidenav on the same side. */
+/** Test component that contains an MdDrawerContainer and 2 MdDrawer in the same position. */
 @Component({
   template: `
-    <md-sidenav-container>
-      <md-sidenav align="start"> </md-sidenav>
-      <md-sidenav align="end"> </md-sidenav>
-    </md-sidenav-container>`,
+    <md-drawer-container>
+      <md-drawer position="start"></md-drawer>
+      <md-drawer position="end"></md-drawer>
+    </md-drawer-container>`,
 })
-class SidenavContainerTwoSidenavTestApp {
-  @ViewChild(MdSidenavContainer) sidenavContainer: MdSidenavContainer;
+class DrawerContainerTwoDrawerTestApp {
+  @ViewChild(MdDrawerContainer) drawerContainer: MdDrawerContainer;
 }
 
-/** Test component that contains an MdSidenavContainer and one MdSidenav. */
+/** Test component that contains an MdDrawerContainer and one MdDrawer. */
 @Component({
   template: `
-    <md-sidenav-container (backdropClick)="backdropClicked()">
-      <md-sidenav #sidenav align="start"
-                  (open)="open()"
-                  (close)="close()">
-        <button #sidenavButton>Content.</button>
-      </md-sidenav>
-      <button (click)="sidenav.open()" class="open" #openButton></button>
-      <button (click)="sidenav.close()" class="close" #closeButton></button>
-    </md-sidenav-container>`,
+    <md-drawer-container (backdropClick)="backdropClicked()">
+      <md-drawer #drawer position="start"
+                 (open)="open()"
+                 (close)="close()">
+        <button #drawerButton>Content.</button>
+      </md-drawer>
+      <button (click)="drawer.open()" class="open" #openButton></button>
+      <button (click)="drawer.close()" class="close" #closeButton></button>
+    </md-drawer-container>`,
 })
 class BasicTestApp {
   openCount: number = 0;
   closeCount: number = 0;
   backdropClickedCount: number = 0;
 
-  @ViewChild('sidenavButton') sidenavButton: ElementRef;
+  @ViewChild('drawerButton') drawerButton: ElementRef;
   @ViewChild('openButton') openButton: ElementRef;
   @ViewChild('closeButton') closeButton: ElementRef;
 
@@ -417,58 +417,58 @@ class BasicTestApp {
 
 @Component({
   template: `
-    <md-sidenav-container>
-      <md-sidenav #sidenav mode="side" opened="false">
-        Closed Sidenav.
-      </md-sidenav>
-    </md-sidenav-container>`,
+    <md-drawer-container>
+      <md-drawer #drawer mode="side" opened="false">
+        Closed Drawer.
+      </md-drawer>
+    </md-drawer-container>`,
 })
-class SidenavSetToOpenedFalse { }
+class DrawerSetToOpenedFalse { }
 
 @Component({
   template: `
-    <md-sidenav-container>
-      <md-sidenav #sidenav mode="side" opened="true">
-        Closed Sidenav.
-      </md-sidenav>
-    </md-sidenav-container>`,
+    <md-drawer-container>
+      <md-drawer #drawer mode="side" opened="true">
+        Closed Drawer.
+      </md-drawer>
+    </md-drawer-container>`,
 })
-class SidenavSetToOpenedTrue { }
+class DrawerSetToOpenedTrue { }
 
 @Component({
   template: `
-    <md-sidenav-container>
-      <md-sidenav #sidenav1 [align]="sidenav1Align"></md-sidenav>
-      <md-sidenav #sidenav2 [align]="sidenav2Align"></md-sidenav>
-    </md-sidenav-container>`,
+    <md-drawer-container>
+      <md-drawer #drawer1 [position]="drawer1Position"></md-drawer>
+      <md-drawer #drawer2 [position]="drawer2Position"></md-drawer>
+    </md-drawer-container>`,
 })
-class SidenavDynamicAlign {
-  sidenav1Align = 'start';
-  sidenav2Align = 'end';
+class DrawerDynamicPosition {
+  drawer1Position = 'start';
+  drawer2Position = 'end';
 }
 
 @Component({
   template: `
-    <md-sidenav-container>
-      <md-sidenav align="start" [mode]="mode">
+    <md-drawer-container>
+      <md-drawer position="start" [mode]="mode">
         <a class="link1" href="#">link1</a>
-      </md-sidenav>
+      </md-drawer>
       <a class="link2" href="#">link2</a>
-    </md-sidenav-container>`,
+    </md-drawer-container>`,
 })
-class SidenavWitFocusableElements {
+class DrawerWitFocusableElements {
   mode: string = 'over';
 }
 
 
 @Component({
   template: `
-    <md-sidenav-container>
-      <md-sidenav *ngIf="showSidenav" #sidenav mode="side">Sidenav</md-sidenav>
-    </md-sidenav-container>
+    <md-drawer-container>
+      <md-drawer *ngIf="showDrawer" #drawer mode="side">Drawer</md-drawer>
+    </md-drawer-container>
   `,
 })
-class SidenavDelayed {
-  @ViewChild(MdSidenav) sidenav: MdSidenav;
-  showSidenav = false;
+class DrawerDelayed {
+  @ViewChild(MdDrawer) drawer: MdDrawer;
+  showDrawer = false;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/drawer.ts b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4a00b86a035
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/sidenav/drawer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,495 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright Google Inc. All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style license that can be
+ * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
+ */
+
+import {
+  AfterContentInit,
+  Component,
+  ContentChildren,
+  ElementRef,
+  Input,
+  Optional,
+  Output,
+  QueryList,
+  ChangeDetectionStrategy,
+  EventEmitter,
+  Renderer2,
+  ViewEncapsulation,
+  NgZone,
+  OnDestroy,
+  Inject,
+  ChangeDetectorRef,
+} from '@angular/core';
+import {animate, state, style, transition, trigger, AnimationEvent} from '@angular/animations';
+import {Directionality, coerceBooleanProperty} from '../core';
+import {FocusTrapFactory, FocusTrap} from '../core/a11y/focus-trap';
+import {ESCAPE} from '../core/keyboard/keycodes';
+import {first, takeUntil, startWith} from '../core/rxjs/index';
+import {DOCUMENT} from '@angular/platform-browser';
+import {merge} from 'rxjs/observable/merge';
+
+
+/** Throws an exception when two MdDrawer are matching the same position. */
+export function throwMdDuplicatedDrawerError(position: string) {
+  throw Error(`A drawer was already declared for 'position="${position}"'`);
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * Drawer toggle promise result.
+ * @deprecated
+ */
+export class MdDrawerToggleResult {
+  constructor(public type: 'open' | 'close', public animationFinished: boolean) {}
+}
+
+/**
+ * <md-drawer> component.
+ *
+ * This component corresponds to a drawer that can be opened on the drawer container.
+ *
+ * Please refer to README.md for examples on how to use it.
+ */
+@Component({
+  moduleId: module.id,
+  selector: 'md-drawer, mat-drawer',
+  templateUrl: 'drawer.html',
+  animations: [
+    trigger('transform', [
+      state('open, open-instant', style({
+        transform: 'translate3d(0, 0, 0)',
+        visibility: 'visible',
+      })),
+      state('void', style({
+        visibility: 'hidden',
+      })),
+      transition('void => open-instant', animate('0ms')),
+      transition('void <=> open, open-instant => void',
+          animate('400ms cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.8, 0.25, 1)'))
+    ])
+  ],
+  host: {
+    'class': 'mat-drawer',
+    '[@transform]': '_animationState',
+    '(@transform.start)': '_onAnimationStart()',
+    '(@transform.done)': '_onAnimationEnd($event)',
+    '(keydown)': 'handleKeydown($event)',
+    // must prevent the browser from aligning text based on value
+    '[attr.align]': 'null',
+    '[class.mat-drawer-end]': 'position === "end"',
+    '[class.mat-drawer-over]': 'mode === "over"',
+    '[class.mat-drawer-push]': 'mode === "push"',
+    '[class.mat-drawer-side]': 'mode === "side"',
+    'tabIndex': '-1',
+  },
+  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
+  encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+})
+export class MdDrawer implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy {
+  private _focusTrap: FocusTrap;
+  private _elementFocusedBeforeDrawerWasOpened: HTMLElement | null = null;
+
+  /** Whether the drawer is initialized. Used for disabling the initial animation. */
+  private _enableAnimations = false;
+
+  /** The side that the drawer is attached to. */
+  @Input()
+  get position() { return this._position; }
+  set position(value) {
+    // Make sure we have a valid value.
+    value = value === 'end' ? 'end' : 'start';
+    if (value != this._position) {
+      this._position = value;
+      this.onAlignChanged.emit();
+      this.onPositionChanged.emit();
+    }
+  }
+  private _position: 'start' | 'end' = 'start';
+
+  /** @deprecated */
+  @Input()
+  get align() { return this.position; }
+  set align(value) { this.position = value; }
+
+  /** Mode of the drawer; one of 'over', 'push' or 'side'. */
+  @Input() mode: 'over' | 'push' | 'side' = 'over';
+
+  /** Whether the drawer can be closed with the escape key or not. */
+  @Input()
+  get disableClose(): boolean { return this._disableClose; }
+  set disableClose(value: boolean) { this._disableClose = coerceBooleanProperty(value); }
+  private _disableClose: boolean = false;
+
+  /** Whether the drawer is opened. */
+  private _opened: boolean = false;
+
+  /** Emits whenever the drawer has started animating. */
+  _animationStarted = new EventEmitter<void>();
+
+  /** Whether the drawer is animating. Used to prevent overlapping animations. */
+  _isAnimating = false;
+
+  /** Current state of the sidenav animation. */
+  _animationState: 'open-instant' | 'open' | 'void' = 'void';
+
+  /**
+   * Promise that resolves when the open/close animation completes. It is here for backwards
+   * compatibility and should be removed next time we do drawer breaking changes.
+   * @deprecated
+   */
+  private _currentTogglePromise: Promise<MdDrawerToggleResult> | null;
+
+  /** Event emitted when the drawer is fully opened. */
+  @Output('open') onOpen = new EventEmitter<MdDrawerToggleResult | void>();
+
+  /** Event emitted when the drawer is fully closed. */
+  @Output('close') onClose = new EventEmitter<MdDrawerToggleResult | void>();
+
+  /** Event emitted when the drawer's position changes. */
+  @Output('positionChanged') onPositionChanged = new EventEmitter<void>();
+
+  /** @deprecated */
+  @Output('align-changed') onAlignChanged = new EventEmitter<void>();
+
+  get isFocusTrapEnabled() {
+    // The focus trap is only enabled when the drawer is open in any mode other than side.
+    return this.opened && this.mode !== 'side';
+  }
+
+  constructor(private _elementRef: ElementRef,
+              private _focusTrapFactory: FocusTrapFactory,
+              @Optional() @Inject(DOCUMENT) private _doc: any) {
+    this.onOpen.subscribe(() => {
+      if (this._doc) {
+        this._elementFocusedBeforeDrawerWasOpened = this._doc.activeElement as HTMLElement;
+      }
+
+      if (this.isFocusTrapEnabled && this._focusTrap) {
+        this._focusTrap.focusInitialElementWhenReady();
+      }
+    });
+
+    this.onClose.subscribe(() => this._restoreFocus());
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * If focus is currently inside the drawer, restores it to where it was before the drawer
+   * opened.
+   */
+  private _restoreFocus() {
+    let activeEl = this._doc && this._doc.activeElement;
+    if (activeEl && this._elementRef.nativeElement.contains(activeEl)) {
+      if (this._elementFocusedBeforeDrawerWasOpened instanceof HTMLElement) {
+        this._elementFocusedBeforeDrawerWasOpened.focus();
+      } else {
+        this._elementRef.nativeElement.blur();
+      }
+    }
+
+    this._elementFocusedBeforeDrawerWasOpened = null;
+  }
+
+  ngAfterContentInit() {
+    this._focusTrap = this._focusTrapFactory.create(this._elementRef.nativeElement);
+    this._focusTrap.enabled = this.isFocusTrapEnabled;
+    this._enableAnimations = true;
+  }
+
+  ngOnDestroy() {
+    if (this._focusTrap) {
+      this._focusTrap.destroy();
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Whether the drawer is opened. We overload this because we trigger an event when it
+   * starts or end.
+   */
+  @Input()
+  get opened(): boolean { return this._opened; }
+  set opened(v: boolean) {
+    this.toggle(coerceBooleanProperty(v));
+  }
+
+
+  /** Open the drawer. */
+  open(): Promise<MdDrawerToggleResult> {
+    return this.toggle(true);
+  }
+
+  /** Close the drawer. */
+  close(): Promise<MdDrawerToggleResult> {
+    return this.toggle(false);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Toggle this drawer.
+   * @param isOpen Whether the drawer should be open.
+   */
+  toggle(isOpen: boolean = !this.opened): Promise<MdDrawerToggleResult> {
+    if (!this._isAnimating) {
+      this._opened = isOpen;
+
+      if (isOpen) {
+        this._animationState = this._enableAnimations ? 'open' : 'open-instant';
+      } else {
+        this._animationState = 'void';
+      }
+
+      this._currentTogglePromise = new Promise(resolve => {
+        first.call(isOpen ? this.onOpen : this.onClose).subscribe(resolve);
+      });
+
+      if (this._focusTrap) {
+        this._focusTrap.enabled = this.isFocusTrapEnabled;
+      }
+    }
+
+    // TODO(crisbeto): This promise is here for backwards-compatibility.
+    // It should be removed next time we do breaking changes in the drawer.
+    return this._currentTogglePromise!;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Handles the keyboard events.
+   * @docs-private
+   */
+  handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
+    if (event.keyCode === ESCAPE && !this.disableClose) {
+      this.close();
+      event.stopPropagation();
+    }
+  }
+
+  _onAnimationStart() {
+    this._isAnimating = true;
+    this._animationStarted.emit();
+  }
+
+  _onAnimationEnd(event: AnimationEvent) {
+    const {fromState, toState} = event;
+
+    if (toState === 'open' && fromState === 'void') {
+      this.onOpen.emit(new MdDrawerToggleResult('open', true));
+    } else if (toState === 'void' && fromState === 'open') {
+      this.onClose.emit(new MdDrawerToggleResult('close', true));
+    }
+
+    // Note: as of Angular 4.3, the animations module seems to fire the `start` callback before
+    // the end if animations are disabled. Make this call async to ensure that it still fires
+    // at the appropriate time.
+    Promise.resolve().then(() => {
+      this._isAnimating = false;
+      this._currentTogglePromise = null;
+    });
+  }
+
+  get _width() {
+    return this._elementRef.nativeElement ? (this._elementRef.nativeElement.offsetWidth || 0) : 0;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * <md-drawer-container> component.
+ *
+ * This is the parent component to one or two <md-drawer>s that validates the state internally
+ * and coordinates the backdrop and content styling.
+ */
+@Component({
+  moduleId: module.id,
+  selector: 'md-drawer-container, mat-drawer-container',
+  templateUrl: 'drawer-container.html',
+  styleUrls: [
+    'drawer.css',
+    'drawer-transitions.css',
+  ],
+  host: {
+    'class': 'mat-drawer-container',
+  },
+  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
+  encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+})
+export class MdDrawerContainer implements AfterContentInit {
+  @ContentChildren(MdDrawer) _drawers: QueryList<MdDrawer>;
+
+  /** The drawer child with the `start` position. */
+  get start() { return this._start; }
+
+  /** The drawer child with the `end` position. */
+  get end() { return this._end; }
+
+  /** Event emitted when the drawer backdrop is clicked. */
+  @Output() backdropClick = new EventEmitter<void>();
+
+  /** The drawer at the start/end position, independent of direction. */
+  private _start: MdDrawer | null;
+  private _end: MdDrawer | null;
+
+  /**
+   * The drawer at the left/right. When direction changes, these will change as well.
+   * They're used as aliases for the above to set the left/right style properly.
+   * In LTR, _left == _start and _right == _end.
+   * In RTL, _left == _end and _right == _start.
+   */
+  private _left: MdDrawer | null;
+  private _right: MdDrawer | null;
+
+  /** Inline styles to be applied to the container. */
+  _styles: { marginLeft: string; marginRight: string; transform: string; };
+
+  constructor(@Optional() private _dir: Directionality, private _element: ElementRef,
+              private _renderer: Renderer2, private _ngZone: NgZone,
+              private _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef) {
+    // If a `Dir` directive exists up the tree, listen direction changes and update the left/right
+    // properties to point to the proper start/end.
+    if (_dir != null) {
+      _dir.change.subscribe(() => this._validateDrawers());
+    }
+  }
+
+  ngAfterContentInit() {
+    startWith.call(this._drawers.changes, null).subscribe(() => {
+      this._validateDrawers();
+      this._drawers.forEach((drawer: MdDrawer) => {
+        this._watchDrawerToggle(drawer);
+        this._watchDrawerPosition(drawer);
+      });
+    });
+  }
+
+  /** Calls `open` of both start and end drawers */
+  open(): void {
+    this._drawers.forEach(drawer => drawer.open());
+  }
+
+  /** Calls `close` of both start and end drawers */
+  close(): void {
+    this._drawers.forEach(drawer => drawer.close());
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Subscribes to drawer events in order to set a class on the main container element when the
+   * drawer is open and the backdrop is visible. This ensures any overflow on the container element
+   * is properly hidden.
+   */
+  private _watchDrawerToggle(drawer: MdDrawer): void {
+    takeUntil.call(drawer._animationStarted, this._drawers.changes).subscribe(() => {
+      // Set the transition class on the container so that the animations occur. This should not
+      // be set initially because animations should only be triggered via a change in state.
+      this._renderer.addClass(this._element.nativeElement, 'mat-drawer-transition');
+      this._updateStyles();
+      this._changeDetectorRef.markForCheck();
+    });
+
+    if (drawer.mode !== 'side') {
+      takeUntil.call(merge(drawer.onOpen, drawer.onClose), this._drawers.changes).subscribe(() =>
+          this._setContainerClass(drawer.opened));
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Subscribes to drawer onPositionChanged event in order to re-validate drawers when the position
+   * changes.
+   */
+  private _watchDrawerPosition(drawer: MdDrawer): void {
+    if (!drawer) {
+      return;
+    }
+    // NOTE: We need to wait for the microtask queue to be empty before validating,
+    // since both drawers may be swapping positions at the same time.
+    takeUntil.call(drawer.onPositionChanged, this._drawers.changes).subscribe(() =>
+        first.call(this._ngZone.onMicrotaskEmpty).subscribe(() => this._validateDrawers()));
+  }
+
+  /** Toggles the 'mat-drawer-opened' class on the main 'md-drawer-container' element. */
+  private _setContainerClass(isAdd: boolean): void {
+    if (isAdd) {
+      this._renderer.addClass(this._element.nativeElement, 'mat-drawer-opened');
+    } else {
+      this._renderer.removeClass(this._element.nativeElement, 'mat-drawer-opened');
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** Validate the state of the drawer children components. */
+  private _validateDrawers() {
+    this._start = this._end = null;
+
+    // Ensure that we have at most one start and one end drawer.
+    this._drawers.forEach(drawer => {
+      if (drawer.position == 'end') {
+        if (this._end != null) {
+          throwMdDuplicatedDrawerError('end');
+        }
+        this._end = drawer;
+      } else {
+        if (this._start != null) {
+          throwMdDuplicatedDrawerError('start');
+        }
+        this._start = drawer;
+      }
+    });
+
+    this._right = this._left = null;
+
+    // Detect if we're LTR or RTL.
+    if (this._dir == null || this._dir.value == 'ltr') {
+      this._left = this._start;
+      this._right = this._end;
+    } else {
+      this._left = this._end;
+      this._right = this._start;
+    }
+  }
+
+  _onBackdropClicked() {
+    this.backdropClick.emit();
+    this._closeModalDrawer();
+  }
+
+  _closeModalDrawer() {
+    // Close all open drawers where closing is not disabled and the mode is not `side`.
+    [this._start, this._end]
+      .filter(drawer => drawer && !drawer.disableClose && drawer.mode !== 'side')
+      .forEach(drawer => drawer!.close());
+  }
+
+  _isShowingBackdrop(): boolean {
+    return (this._isDrawerOpen(this._start) && this._start!.mode != 'side')
+        || (this._isDrawerOpen(this._end) && this._end!.mode != 'side');
+  }
+
+  private _isDrawerOpen(drawer: MdDrawer | null): boolean {
+    return drawer != null && drawer.opened;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Return the width of the drawer, if it's in the proper mode and opened.
+   * This may relayout the view, so do not call this often.
+   * @param drawer
+   * @param mode
+   */
+  private _getDrawerEffectiveWidth(drawer: MdDrawer, mode: string): number {
+    return (this._isDrawerOpen(drawer) && drawer.mode == mode) ? drawer._width : 0;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Recalculates and updates the inline styles. Note that this
+   * should be used sparingly, because it causes a reflow.
+   */
+  private _updateStyles() {
+    const marginLeft = this._left ? this._getDrawerEffectiveWidth(this._left, 'side') : 0;
+    const marginRight = this._right ? this._getDrawerEffectiveWidth(this._right, 'side') : 0;
+    const leftWidth = this._left ? this._getDrawerEffectiveWidth(this._left, 'push') : 0;
+    const rightWidth = this._right ? this._getDrawerEffectiveWidth(this._right, 'push') : 0;
+
+    this._styles = {
+      marginLeft: `${marginLeft}px`,
+      marginRight: `${marginRight}px`,
+      transform: `translate3d(${leftWidth - rightWidth}px, 0, 0)`
+    };
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/index.ts b/src/lib/sidenav/index.ts
index c0f6e8351a5..dca718a9fca 100644
--- a/src/lib/sidenav/index.ts
+++ b/src/lib/sidenav/index.ts
@@ -11,15 +11,17 @@ import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 import {A11yModule} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
 import {OverlayModule} from '@angular/cdk/overlay';
 import {MdCommonModule} from '../core';
+import {MdDrawer, MdDrawerContainer} from './drawer';
 import {MdSidenav, MdSidenavContainer} from './sidenav';
 
 
 @NgModule({
   imports: [CommonModule, MdCommonModule, A11yModule, OverlayModule],
-  exports: [MdSidenavContainer, MdSidenav, MdCommonModule],
-  declarations: [MdSidenavContainer, MdSidenav],
+  exports: [MdDrawerContainer, MdDrawer, MdSidenavContainer, MdSidenav, MdCommonModule],
+  declarations: [MdDrawerContainer, MdDrawer, MdSidenavContainer, MdSidenav],
 })
 export class MdSidenavModule {}
 
 
+export * from './drawer';
 export * from './sidenav';
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav-container.html b/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav-container.html
deleted file mode 100644
index 11c19f8c0c2..00000000000
--- a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav-container.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-<div class="mat-sidenav-backdrop" (click)="_onBackdropClicked()"
-     [class.mat-sidenav-shown]="_isShowingBackdrop()"></div>
-
-<ng-content select="md-sidenav, mat-sidenav"></ng-content>
-
-<div class="mat-sidenav-content" [ngStyle]="_styles" cdk-scrollable>
-  <ng-content></ng-content>
-</div>
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.md b/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.md
index 4c29b328132..e58f54c3fae 100644
--- a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.md
+++ b/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.md
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Using the `side` mode on mobile devices can affect the performance and is also n
 [Material Design specification](https://material.io/guidelines/patterns/navigation-drawer.html#navigation-drawer-behavior).
 
 ### Positioning the sidenav
-The `align` property determines whether the sidenav appears at the `"start"` or `"end"` of the
+The `position` property determines whether the sidenav appears at the `"start"` or `"end"` of the
 container. This is affected by the current text direction ("ltr" or "rtl"). By default, the sidenav
 appears at the start of the container.
 
diff --git a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.ts b/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.ts
index b2b995674b0..05f65c0e3af 100644
--- a/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.ts
+++ b/src/lib/sidenav/sidenav.ts
@@ -7,60 +7,19 @@
  */
 
 import {
-  AfterContentInit,
+  ChangeDetectionStrategy,
   Component,
   ContentChildren,
-  ElementRef,
-  Input,
-  Optional,
-  Output,
-  QueryList,
-  ChangeDetectionStrategy,
-  EventEmitter,
-  Renderer2,
-  ViewEncapsulation,
-  NgZone,
-  OnDestroy,
-  Inject,
-  ChangeDetectorRef,
+  ViewEncapsulation
 } from '@angular/core';
-import {animate, state, style, transition, trigger, AnimationEvent} from '@angular/animations';
-import {coerceBooleanProperty} from '@angular/cdk/coercion';
-import {Directionality} from '@angular/cdk/bidi';
-import {ESCAPE} from '@angular/cdk/keycodes';
-import {first, takeUntil, startWith} from '@angular/cdk/rxjs';
-import {FocusTrapFactory, FocusTrap} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
-import {DOCUMENT} from '@angular/platform-browser';
-import {merge} from 'rxjs/observable/merge';
+import {MdDrawer, MdDrawerContainer} from './drawer';
+import {animate, state, style, transition, trigger} from '@angular/animations';
 
 
-/** Throws an exception when two MdSidenav are matching the same side. */
-export function throwMdDuplicatedSidenavError(align: string) {
-  throw Error(`A sidenav was already declared for 'align="${align}"'`);
-}
-
-
-/**
- * Sidenav toggle promise result.
- * @deprecated
- */
-export class MdSidenavToggleResult {
-  constructor(public type: 'open' | 'close', public animationFinished: boolean) {}
-}
-
-/**
- * <md-sidenav> component.
- *
- * This component corresponds to the drawer of the sidenav.
- *
- * Please refer to README.md for examples on how to use it.
- */
 @Component({
   moduleId: module.id,
   selector: 'md-sidenav, mat-sidenav',
-  templateUrl: 'sidenav.html',
-  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
-  encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+  templateUrl: 'drawer.html',
   animations: [
     trigger('transform', [
       state('open, open-instant', style({
@@ -76,414 +35,39 @@ export class MdSidenavToggleResult {
     ])
   ],
   host: {
-    'class': 'mat-sidenav',
+    'class': 'mat-drawer mat-sidenav',
     '[@transform]': '_animationState',
     '(@transform.start)': '_onAnimationStart()',
     '(@transform.done)': '_onAnimationEnd($event)',
     '(keydown)': 'handleKeydown($event)',
     // must prevent the browser from aligning text based on value
     '[attr.align]': 'null',
-    '[class.mat-sidenav-end]': 'align === "end"',
-    '[class.mat-sidenav-over]': 'mode === "over"',
-    '[class.mat-sidenav-push]': 'mode === "push"',
-    '[class.mat-sidenav-side]': 'mode === "side"',
-    'tabIndex': '-1'
-  },
-})
-export class MdSidenav implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy {
-  private _focusTrap: FocusTrap;
-  private _elementFocusedBeforeSidenavWasOpened: HTMLElement | null = null;
-
-  /** Whether the sidenav is initialized. Used for disabling the initial animation. */
-  private _enableAnimations = false;
-
-  /** Alignment of the sidenav (direction neutral); whether 'start' or 'end'. */
-  private _align: 'start' | 'end' = 'start';
-
-  /** Direction which the sidenav is aligned in. */
-  @Input()
-  get align() { return this._align; }
-  set align(value) {
-    // Make sure we have a valid value.
-    value = value === 'end' ? 'end' : 'start';
-    if (value != this._align) {
-      this._align = value;
-      this.onAlignChanged.emit();
-    }
-  }
-
-  /** Mode of the sidenav; one of 'over', 'push' or 'side'. */
-  @Input() mode: 'over' | 'push' | 'side' = 'over';
-
-  /** Whether the sidenav can be closed with the escape key or not. */
-  @Input()
-  get disableClose(): boolean { return this._disableClose; }
-  set disableClose(value: boolean) { this._disableClose = coerceBooleanProperty(value); }
-  private _disableClose: boolean = false;
-
-  /** Whether the sidenav is opened. */
-  private _opened: boolean = false;
-
-  /** Emits whenever the sidenav has started animating. */
-  _animationStarted = new EventEmitter<void>();
-
-  /** Whether the sidenav is animating. Used to prevent overlapping animations. */
-  _isAnimating = false;
-
-  /** Current state of the sidenav animation. */
-  _animationState: 'open-instant' | 'open' | 'void' = 'void';
-
-  /**
-   * Promise that resolves when the open/close animation completes. It is here for backwards
-   * compatibility and should be removed next time we do sidenav breaking changes.
-   * @deprecated
-   */
-  private _currentTogglePromise: Promise<MdSidenavToggleResult> | null;
-
-  /** Event emitted when the sidenav is fully opened. */
-  @Output('open') onOpen = new EventEmitter<MdSidenavToggleResult | void>();
-
-  /** Event emitted when the sidenav is fully closed. */
-  @Output('close') onClose = new EventEmitter<MdSidenavToggleResult | void>();
-
-  /** Event emitted when the sidenav alignment changes. */
-  @Output('align-changed') onAlignChanged = new EventEmitter<void>();
-
-  get isFocusTrapEnabled() {
-    // The focus trap is only enabled when the sidenav is open in any mode other than side.
-    return this.opened && this.mode !== 'side';
-  }
-
-  constructor(private _elementRef: ElementRef,
-              private _focusTrapFactory: FocusTrapFactory,
-              @Optional() @Inject(DOCUMENT) private _doc: any) {
-    this.onOpen.subscribe(() => {
-      if (this._doc) {
-        this._elementFocusedBeforeSidenavWasOpened = this._doc.activeElement as HTMLElement;
-      }
-
-      if (this.isFocusTrapEnabled && this._focusTrap) {
-        this._focusTrap.focusInitialElementWhenReady();
-      }
-    });
-
-    this.onClose.subscribe(() => this._restoreFocus());
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * If focus is currently inside the sidenav, restores it to where it was before the sidenav
-   * opened.
-   */
-  private _restoreFocus() {
-    let activeEl = this._doc && this._doc.activeElement;
-    if (activeEl && this._elementRef.nativeElement.contains(activeEl)) {
-      if (this._elementFocusedBeforeSidenavWasOpened instanceof HTMLElement) {
-        this._elementFocusedBeforeSidenavWasOpened.focus();
-      } else {
-        this._elementRef.nativeElement.blur();
-      }
-    }
-
-    this._elementFocusedBeforeSidenavWasOpened = null;
-  }
-
-  ngAfterContentInit() {
-    this._focusTrap = this._focusTrapFactory.create(this._elementRef.nativeElement);
-    this._focusTrap.enabled = this.isFocusTrapEnabled;
-    this._enableAnimations = true;
-  }
-
-  ngOnDestroy() {
-    if (this._focusTrap) {
-      this._focusTrap.destroy();
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Whether the sidenav is opened. We overload this because we trigger an event when it
-   * starts or end.
-   */
-  @Input()
-  get opened(): boolean { return this._opened; }
-  set opened(v: boolean) {
-    this.toggle(coerceBooleanProperty(v));
-  }
-
-
-  /**  Open the sidenav. */
-  open(): Promise<MdSidenavToggleResult> {
-    return this.toggle(true);
-  }
-
-  /** Close the sidenav. */
-  close(): Promise<MdSidenavToggleResult> {
-    return this.toggle(false);
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Toggle this sidenav.
-   * @param isOpen Whether the sidenav should be open.
-   */
-  toggle(isOpen: boolean = !this.opened): Promise<MdSidenavToggleResult> {
-    if (!this._isAnimating) {
-      this._opened = isOpen;
-
-      if (isOpen) {
-        this._animationState = this._enableAnimations ? 'open' : 'open-instant';
-      } else {
-        this._animationState = 'void';
-      }
-
-      this._currentTogglePromise = new Promise(resolve => {
-        first.call(isOpen ? this.onOpen : this.onClose).subscribe(resolve);
-      });
-
-      if (this._focusTrap) {
-        this._focusTrap.enabled = this.isFocusTrapEnabled;
-      }
-    }
-
-    // TODO(crisbeto): This promise is here for backwards-compatibility.
-    // It should be removed next time we do breaking changes in the sidenav.
-    return this._currentTogglePromise!;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Handles the keyboard events.
-   * @docs-private
-   */
-  handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
-    if (event.keyCode === ESCAPE && !this.disableClose) {
-      this.close();
-      event.stopPropagation();
-    }
-  }
-
-  _onAnimationStart() {
-    this._isAnimating = true;
-    this._animationStarted.emit();
-  }
-
-  _onAnimationEnd(event: AnimationEvent) {
-    const {fromState, toState} = event;
-
-    if (toState === 'open' && fromState === 'void') {
-      this.onOpen.emit(new MdSidenavToggleResult('open', true));
-    } else if (toState === 'void' && fromState === 'open') {
-      this.onClose.emit(new MdSidenavToggleResult('close', true));
-    }
-
-    // Note: as of Angular 4.3, the animations module seems to fire the `start` callback before
-    // the end if animations are disabled. Make this call async to ensure that it still fires
-    // at the appropriate time.
-    Promise.resolve().then(() => {
-      this._isAnimating = false;
-      this._currentTogglePromise = null;
-    });
-  }
-
-  get _width() {
-    return this._elementRef.nativeElement ? (this._elementRef.nativeElement.offsetWidth || 0) : 0;
-  }
-}
-
-/**
- * <md-sidenav-container> component.
- *
- * This is the parent component to one or two <md-sidenav>s that validates the state internally
- * and coordinates the backdrop and content styling.
- */
-@Component({
-  moduleId: module.id,
-  selector: 'md-sidenav-container, mat-sidenav-container',
-  templateUrl: 'sidenav-container.html',
-  styleUrls: [
-    'sidenav.css',
-    'sidenav-transitions.css',
-  ],
-  host: {
-    'class': 'mat-sidenav-container',
+    '[class.mat-drawer-end]': 'position === "end"',
+    '[class.mat-drawer-over]': 'mode === "over"',
+    '[class.mat-drawer-push]': 'mode === "push"',
+    '[class.mat-drawer-side]': 'mode === "side"',
+    'tabIndex': '-1',
   },
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
 })
-export class MdSidenavContainer implements AfterContentInit {
-  @ContentChildren(MdSidenav) _sidenavs: QueryList<MdSidenav>;
+export class MdSidenav extends MdDrawer {}
 
-  /** The sidenav child with the `start` alignment. */
-  get start() { return this._start; }
 
-  /** The sidenav child with the `end` alignment. */
-  get end() { return this._end; }
-
-  /** Event emitted when the sidenav backdrop is clicked. */
-  @Output() backdropClick = new EventEmitter<void>();
-
-  /** The sidenav at the start/end alignment, independent of direction. */
-  private _start: MdSidenav | null;
-  private _end: MdSidenav | null;
-
-  /**
-   * The sidenav at the left/right. When direction changes, these will change as well.
-   * They're used as aliases for the above to set the left/right style properly.
-   * In LTR, _left == _start and _right == _end.
-   * In RTL, _left == _end and _right == _start.
-   */
-  private _left: MdSidenav | null;
-  private _right: MdSidenav | null;
-
-  /** Inline styles to be applied to the container. */
-  _styles: { marginLeft: string; marginRight: string; transform: string; };
-
-  constructor(@Optional() private _dir: Directionality, private _element: ElementRef,
-              private _renderer: Renderer2, private _ngZone: NgZone,
-              private _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef) {
-    // If a `Dir` directive exists up the tree, listen direction changes and update the left/right
-    // properties to point to the proper start/end.
-    if (_dir != null) {
-      _dir.change.subscribe(() => this._validateDrawers());
-    }
-  }
-
-  ngAfterContentInit() {
-    startWith.call(this._sidenavs.changes, null).subscribe(() => {
-      this._validateDrawers();
-      this._sidenavs.forEach((sidenav: MdSidenav) => {
-        this._watchSidenavToggle(sidenav);
-        this._watchSidenavAlign(sidenav);
-      });
-    });
-  }
-
-  /** Calls `open` of both start and end sidenavs */
-  open(): void {
-    this._sidenavs.forEach(sidenav => sidenav.open());
-  }
-
-  /** Calls `close` of both start and end sidenavs */
-  close(): void {
-    this._sidenavs.forEach(sidenav => sidenav.close());
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Subscribes to sidenav events in order to set a class on the main container element when the
-   * sidenav is open and the backdrop is visible. This ensures any overflow on the container element
-   * is properly hidden.
-   */
-  private _watchSidenavToggle(sidenav: MdSidenav): void {
-    takeUntil.call(sidenav._animationStarted, this._sidenavs.changes).subscribe(() => {
-      // Set the transition class on the container so that the animations occur. This should not
-      // be set initially because animations should only be triggered via a change in state.
-      this._renderer.addClass(this._element.nativeElement, 'mat-sidenav-transition');
-      this._updateStyles();
-      this._changeDetectorRef.markForCheck();
-    });
-
-    if (sidenav.mode !== 'side') {
-      takeUntil.call(merge(sidenav.onOpen, sidenav.onClose), this._sidenavs.changes).subscribe(() =>
-          this._setContainerClass(sidenav.opened));
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Subscribes to sidenav onAlignChanged event in order to re-validate drawers when the align
-   * changes.
-   */
-  private _watchSidenavAlign(sidenav: MdSidenav): void {
-    if (!sidenav) {
-      return;
-    }
-    // NOTE: We need to wait for the microtask queue to be empty before validating,
-    // since both drawers may be swapping sides at the same time.
-    takeUntil.call(sidenav.onAlignChanged, this._sidenavs.changes).subscribe(() =>
-        first.call(this._ngZone.onMicrotaskEmpty).subscribe(() => this._validateDrawers()));
-  }
-
-  /** Toggles the 'mat-sidenav-opened' class on the main 'md-sidenav-container' element. */
-  private _setContainerClass(isAdd: boolean): void {
-    if (isAdd) {
-      this._renderer.addClass(this._element.nativeElement, 'mat-sidenav-opened');
-    } else {
-      this._renderer.removeClass(this._element.nativeElement, 'mat-sidenav-opened');
-    }
-  }
-
-  /** Validate the state of the sidenav children components. */
-  private _validateDrawers() {
-    this._start = this._end = null;
-
-    // Ensure that we have at most one start and one end sidenav.
-    this._sidenavs.forEach(sidenav => {
-      if (sidenav.align == 'end') {
-        if (this._end != null) {
-          throwMdDuplicatedSidenavError('end');
-        }
-        this._end = sidenav;
-      } else {
-        if (this._start != null) {
-          throwMdDuplicatedSidenavError('start');
-        }
-        this._start = sidenav;
-      }
-    });
-
-    this._right = this._left = null;
-
-    // Detect if we're LTR or RTL.
-    if (this._dir == null || this._dir.value == 'ltr') {
-      this._left = this._start;
-      this._right = this._end;
-    } else {
-      this._left = this._end;
-      this._right = this._start;
-    }
-  }
-
-  _onBackdropClicked() {
-    this.backdropClick.emit();
-    this._closeModalSidenav();
-  }
-
-  _closeModalSidenav() {
-    // Close all open sidenav's where closing is not disabled and the mode is not `side`.
-    [this._start, this._end]
-      .filter(sidenav => sidenav && !sidenav.disableClose && sidenav.mode !== 'side')
-      .forEach(sidenav => sidenav!.close());
-  }
-
-  _isShowingBackdrop(): boolean {
-    return (this._isSidenavOpen(this._start) && this._start!.mode != 'side')
-        || (this._isSidenavOpen(this._end) && this._end!.mode != 'side');
-  }
-
-  private _isSidenavOpen(side: MdSidenav | null): boolean {
-    return side != null && side.opened;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Return the width of the sidenav, if it's in the proper mode and opened.
-   * This may relayout the view, so do not call this often.
-   * @param sidenav
-   * @param mode
-   */
-  private _getSidenavEffectiveWidth(sidenav: MdSidenav, mode: string): number {
-    return (this._isSidenavOpen(sidenav) && sidenav.mode == mode) ? sidenav._width : 0;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Recalculates and updates the inline styles. Note that this
-   * should be used sparingly, because it causes a reflow.
-   */
-  private _updateStyles() {
-    const marginLeft = this._left ? this._getSidenavEffectiveWidth(this._left, 'side') : 0;
-    const marginRight = this._right ? this._getSidenavEffectiveWidth(this._right, 'side') : 0;
-    const leftWidth = this._left ? this._getSidenavEffectiveWidth(this._left, 'push') : 0;
-    const rightWidth = this._right ? this._getSidenavEffectiveWidth(this._right, 'push') : 0;
-
-    this._styles = {
-      marginLeft: `${marginLeft}px`,
-      marginRight: `${marginRight}px`,
-      transform: `translate3d(${leftWidth - rightWidth}px, 0, 0)`
-    };
-  }
+@Component({
+  moduleId: module.id,
+  selector: 'md-sidenav-container, mat-sidenav-container',
+  templateUrl: 'drawer-container.html',
+  styleUrls: [
+    'drawer.css',
+    'drawer-transitions.css',
+  ],
+  host: {
+    'class': 'mat-drawer-container mat-sidenav-container',
+  },
+  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
+  encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+})
+export class MdSidenavContainer extends MdDrawerContainer {
+  @ContentChildren(MdSidenav) _drawers;
 }