The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) is an international body in the field of tall buildings and sustainable urban design. A not-for-profit organization^[4] based at the Illinois Institute of Technology in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, the CTBUH announces the title of 'The World's Tallest Building' and is an authority^{[5][6][7][8][9]} on the official height of tall buildings. Its stated mission is to study and report "on all aspects of the planning, design, and construction of tall buildings." The Council was founded at Lehigh University in 1969, where its office remained until October 2003, when it moved to the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago^[10].

Ranking tall buildings[link]

The CTBUH ranks the height of buildings using three different methods:

1. Height to architectural top of the building. This is the main criterion under which the CTBUH ranks the height of buildings. Heights are measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the top of the building, inclusive of spires but excluding items such as flag poles or antennae.
2. To highest occupied floor: Height to the floor of the highest occupied floor of the building.
3. To tip of spire/antenna: Height to the tip of spire, pinnacle, antenna, mast or flag pole.

A category measuring to the top of the roof was removed from the ranking criteria in November 2009.^[11] This is because flat-topped skyscrapers are not as common in the modern era as skyscrapers with intricate spire designs and parapet features atop their roofs, making it more difficult to define a roof on a building.

Tallest database[link]

The CTBUH maintains an extensive database of the tallest buildings in the world, organized by various categories. Buildings under construction are also included, although not ranked until completion. The CTBUH also produces an annual list of the ten tallest buildings completed in that particular year. Topping the 2008 list was the 492-metre (1,614 ft) Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai, the then tallest building in the world according to the criteria of highest occupied floor, and home to the world's highest observation deck. Second on the 2008 list was the 363-metre (1,191 ft) Almas Tower in Dubai, third was the Minsheng Bank Building in Wuhan which stands at 331 metres (1,086 ft), whilst fourth was The Address Downtown Burj Dubai (306 metres (1,004 ft)). All in all, six of the ten tallest buildings completed in 2008 are located in Asia, three in the Middle East and one in North America.

Events[link]

The CTBUH also hosts annual conferences and a World Congress every three to five years. The most recent World Congress was held in Dubai between 3 and 5 March 2008 and was attended by delegates from 43 countries. The next World Congress will be held in Shanghai between 19 and 21 September 2012.^[12]

The CTBUH also bestows Tall Building Awards each year, with four regional awards to the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia and Australasia. Among these four regional awards, one is given the "Best Tall Building Award Overall." There are also two lifetime achievement awards. Starting in 2010, these awards are presented at a symposium and dinner held on the Illinois Institute of Technology's campus.^[13] In 2012 the CTBUH added two new awards for Innovation and Performance.^[14]

Publications[link]

In addition to the monthly newsletter and daily updated global news archive, the CTBUH publishes a quarterly CTBUH Journal. The Journal includes peer-reviewed technical papers, in-depth project case studies^[15], book reviews^[16], interviews with prominent persons in the tall building industry^[17], and much more.

The CTBUH also publishes guidebooks, reference manuals, and monographs related to the tall building industry. In 2006 it published the book 101 of the World’s Tallest Buildings in conjunction with author and CTBUH member Georges Binder, a reference to 101 of the world’s tallest skyscrapers. It includes photos, plans, details on architects, engineers and stakeholders, and comprehensive technical data on each building. Since 2008 it has published a Best Tall Buildings book to accompany that year's awards.^[18]

[edit] List of Books by the CTBUH^[19]

• 2011 - Best Tall Buildings 2011
• 2010 - Best Tall Buildings 2010
• 2010 - Tall Buildings: The 2010 CTBUH Reference Guide
• 2009 - Best Tall Buildings 2009
• 2008 - Best Tall Buildings 2008
• 2006 - 101 of the World's Tallest Buildings
• 2004 - Catalyst for Skyscraper Revolution

Awards[link]

The CTBUH grants several awards every year. See: CTBUH Skyscraper Award

Best Tall Building Overall Award

• 2008: Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China
• 2009: Linked Hybrid, Beijing, China
• 2010: Broadcasting Place, Leeds, UK.
• 2010: Global Icon award, Burj Khalifa is the first recipient of this award announced on 25 October 2010.,^[20] Dubai, UAE.
• 2011: KfW Westarkade, Frankfurt, Germany.

Research[link]

The CTBUH works with institutions of higher-education from around the world in researching projects related to tall building design.

See also[link]

• CTBUH Skyscraper Award
• World Federation of Great Towers (WFGT)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
• CTBUH Tallest Building Databases
• CTBUH Technical Papers
• CTBUH Global Tall Building News Archive
• CTBUH Newsletter Archive
• CTBUH Design Research

Adrian Smith
Adrian Smith performing with Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Adrian Frederick Smith[1]
Born	(1957-02-27) 27 February 1957 (age 55) Hackney, east London, England
Genres	Heavy metal, progressive rock, hard rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Years active	1975–present
Labels	EMI
Associated acts	Urchin, Iron Maiden, The Entire Population of Hackney, ASAP, The Untouchables, Psycho Motel, Bruce Dickinson, Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske, Hear 'n Aid, Primal Rock Rebellion
Website	http://www.ironmaiden.com
Notable instruments
Jackson Adrian Smith San Dimas Lado Earth Gibson Les Paul Gibson SG Fender Stratocaster

Adrian Frederick "H" Smith (born 27 February 1957) is an English musician, best known as one of the three guitarists in the heavy metal band, Iron Maiden, for whom he regularly writes and, along with bassist Steve Harris, performs backing vocals on some songs.

Growing up in Camden, London, Smith gained an interest in rock music at 15 and formed a friendship with future Iron Maiden guitarist Dave Murray, who would inspire Smith to take up the guitar himself. Upon leaving school at 16, he formed his own band, Urchin, which he would lead until their demise in 1980. Having already been offered a position as their second guitarist the previous year, Smith joined Iron Maiden in November 1980, replacing Dennis Stratton. Following a short-lived solo project entitled A.S.A.P, he left Iron Maiden in 1990, forming his own group, Psycho Motel, before joining Bruce Dickinson's solo outfit in 1997. Along with Dickinson, he returned to Iron Maiden in 1999, after which the band gained renewed success, and recently formed the side project, Primal Rock Rebellion.

Biography[link]

Early years and Urchin: 1957—1980[link]

Born in Hackney,^[1] Smith grew up in Clapton^[2] where he purchased his first record, Deep Purple's Machine Head, while still attending school at 15. This led him to befriend Dave Murray,^[3] with whom he would form a band called Stone Free, featuring Murray on guitar, Smith on vocals and their friend, Dave McCloughlin, playing the bongos.^[4] After seeing the attention Murray got from girls,^[3] Smith was inspired to take up the guitar himself, starting with an old Spanish guitar, once owned by his brother, before purchasing an old one of Murray's for £5.^[5] His early influences included Johnny Winter and Pat Travers, which he claims made him a "melodic player" rather than a "speed merchant or a shredder" as he "was inspired by blues rock rather than metal."^[6]

Leaving school after completing his O-levels, Smith formed his own band, Evil Ways, including Dave Murray on guitar, which was later renamed Urchin.^[7] In this outfit, Smith began writing his own material, including "22 Acacia Avenue", which would later be included on Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast (1982).^[7] At this point, Murray left the band to join Iron Maiden and Urchin signed with DJM Records and released a single, "Black leather Fantasy", in 1977.^[8] Shortly afterwards, Murray joined Urchin on their next single, "She's a Roller", as he had been sacked from Iron Maiden after a row with then vocalist Dennis Wilcock, although he was reinstated six months later.^[8] Smith was also offered a place in Iron Maiden while they were in the process of signing with EMI in 1979, but turned them down to continue with his own band, a decision he would later regret as Urchin split up in 1980.^[9]

First tenure in Iron Maiden: 1980—1989[link]

Without a band, Smith was left "wondering what to do next," before he "literally bumped into Steve [Harris] and Dave," who asked if he might want to reconsider joining.^[9] After a successful audition,^[10] Smith debuted with the band on a German TV show, before setting out on a UK tour and recording the Killers album, released in 1981.^[11] Smith's first song-writing contributions appeared on The Number of the Beast, co-penning "Gangland" and "The Prisoner", as well as the previously mentioned "22 Acacia Avenue",^[12] after which he began co-writing many songs with singer, Bruce Dickinson, on the following Piece of Mind album.^[13][14]

Smith and Dave Murray combined playing dual lead guitars, creating what Allmusic calls "the most formidable twin-guitar attack in heavy metal, outside of Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing."^[15] Smith, along with Steve Harris, also provides the band's backing vocals, although he sang lead on "Reach Out", the B-Side to the "Wasted Years" single, featuring Bruce Dickinson on backing vocals.^[16] Originally written by guitarist Dave "Bucket" Colwell, whom he had worked with on The Entire Population of Hackney project, Smith would later sing "Reach Out" again for Colwell's solo album, Guitars, Beers & Tears, released in 2010.^[17][18]

Departure from Iron Maiden and other projects: 1989—1999[link]

While Iron Maiden were taking some time off in 1989, Smith released a solo LP with the band ASAP (Adrian Smith And Project),^[19] entitled Silver and Gold,^[20] which was a commercial failure in spite of a promotional club tour.^[21] Unhappy with the direction the band were taking for their next release, No Prayer for the Dying,^[22] Smith agreed to leave Iron Maiden in 1990 during the album's pre-production stages,^[23] and was replaced by Janick Gers.^[24] After releasing the experimental Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son albums in 1986 and 1988 respectively, Steve Harris had decided that the band should go for a "stripped-down," "street level" approach, which Smith thought was a "step backward."^[22] No Prayer for the Dying contained one last Smith song, co-penned with Bruce Dickinson, entitled "Hooks in You".^[25]

After leaving, Smith started a family with his Canadian wife, Nathalie, and would not play guitar again until he joined Iron Maiden onstage at Donington Park in 1992 to perform "Running Free".^[26] In the same year, after hearing King's X for the first time, he decided that he would "love to play in a band like that" and formed The Untouchables,^[27] which later became Psycho Motel.^[26] The band recorded two albums, State of Mind in 1996 and Welcome to the World in 1997, during which they supported Iron Maiden on the British leg of The X Factour.^[26] The project was put on hold, however, when Smith joined Bruce Dickinson for his 1997 album, Accident of Birth,^[26] after which he became a full-time member of Dickinson's solo outfit, embarking on two world tours and contributing to one further studio release, 1998's The Chemical Wedding.^[28]

Return to Iron Maiden: 1999—present[link]

Smith performing with Iron Maiden during the Somewhere Back in Time World Tour.

In 1999, Smith re-joined Iron Maiden, along with vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who commented, "When he left the band in 1990, I think everybody was a bit surprised at how much we missed him and certainly, I don’t think anybody had realized how much the fans would miss him - big time. I wouldn’t have rejoined Iron Maiden if he wasn’t in the band. I just don’t think it would have been complete without Adrian, and now, it’s great having three guitarists."^[29] The band embarked on a short tour,^[30] after which the new line-up's first album, Brave New World, was recorded with producer Kevin Shirley and released in 2000.^[31]

He remains in Iron Maiden to this day, with whom he has released three further studio albums, 2003's Dance of Death, 2006's A Matter of Life and Death and 2010's The Final Frontier. Smith claims that his guitar playing improved after leaving the band in 1990, in particular while working with Roy Z, from whom he "learned a lot about picking" and became "more disciplined."^[6] Since returning to Iron Maiden, he has also continued experimenting with tuning (which he began doing in Psycho Motel), stating that he has used drop D tuning in live renditions of "Run to the Hills", "Wrathchild", "The Trooper" and "Hallowed Be Thy Name".^[6]

Smith performs lead guitar, bass and backing vocals on the album Awoken Broken by his collaborative studio project with Mikee Goodman of SikTh called Primal Rock Rebellion. The title was released on 27 February 2012, while one song, "I See Lights", was released as a free download on the project's official website on 2 January.^[32]

Personal life[link]

Adrian Smith was born in Hackney Hospital and grew up a few streets away from his childhood friend, and current band-mate, Dave Murray.^[33] Smith, whose father was a painter and decorator from Homerton, was the youngest of three, with an older brother, Patrick, and a sister, Kathleen.^[1] As a child, he was "a Manchester United fanatic," although he would lose his interest in football once he got into music.^[1]

In his spare time, Smith is a keen angler, revealing that he used to take "worms and maggots" with him on tour,^[34] and was featured on the front cover of Angler's Mail on 25 August 2009.^[35] For over 20 years, he has been married to his Canadian wife,^[26] Nathalie Dufresne-Smith, who currently works for Maiden Flight, a cancer awareness/ patient rights organisation,^[36] and the pair have three children, Dylan, Natasha and Brittany.^[37]

Equipment[link]

Guitars[link]

Smith currently prefers to use his Jackson signature 'San Dimas' Dinky, although he has used a variety of guitars over his career, including several different Dean models,^[38] various Jacksons,^[38] including the Randy Rhoads model, Fender Stratocasters (including three Fender Floyd Rose Classic Stratocasters; one with an added Roland midi pickup), Gibson Les Pauls,^[38] Gibson Explorers, Gibson SGs,^[38] an Ibanez Destroyer,^[38] a Hamer Scarab,^[38] and Lado Guitars.^[38] On the A Matter of Life and Death DVD, he says the first decent guitar he bought was a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, which he paid £235 for when he was 17.^[39] He still uses it to this day,^[40] stating that "it's still probably the best guitar I've got".^[39]

Currently his touring guitars are: Gibson Les Paul Goldtop with Dimarzio Super Distortion in bridge position,^[40] his Jackson Superstrat 1986 prototype (which can be seen in the Maiden England video) with the pickguard changed to resemble his signature model,^[41] a Jackson Signature model with black scratchplate and maple neck,^[42] an early 70's Gibson SG,^[40] and another Jackson, inspired by his Les Paul Goldtop.^[43]

As of August 2007, Adrian Smith endorses Jackson Guitars, his first guitar company endorsement in over fifteen years. With Jackson he has an Adrian Smith San Dimas DK model.^[44] Prior to his endorsement, he was seen using other Jackson guitars, such as a King V during his time in Bruce Dickinson's solo band, before he went to Fender guitars. In August 2008, he had a Jackson guitar stolen from backstage at a show in Greece.^[45]

Effects, controllers and processors[link]

• Dunlop Uni-vibe Wah Controller^[46]
• Yamaha MFC10 Midi Foot Controller^[46][47]
• DigiTech Whammy Pedal^[46]
• Two Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamers^[48]
• Mike Hill B.I.S. Isolation hole^[46]
• Lexicon MX200 multi-effects unit^[47]

Amplifiers[link]

• Two 300-Watt Marshall 1960A Angled-Front 4x12 Cabs loaded with 75-Watt Celestion G12-T75 Speakers^[46]
• Two Marshall 30th Anniversary 6100LM 100-Watt All-Tube Heads^[46]
• Two Marshall DSL100 JCM2000 Amplifiers^[48]
• Marshall 9200 Rack Power Amp^[48]

Units and tuners[link]

• Shure U4 Wireless Receiver^[46]
• Whirlwind Multi-Selector 4-Channel Selector^[46]
• Dunlop DCR-1SR Rack Wah^[46][48]
• Peavey Tubefex Tube Preamp & Multi-Fx Unit^[46]
• Marshall JMP-1 Valve Midi Preamp^[48]

Discography[link]

Urchin "Black Leather Fantasy" (1977) "She's A Roller" (1977) Urchin (2004)- Best of/Compilation Iron Maiden Main article: Iron Maiden discography Killers (1981) The Number of the Beast (1982) Piece of Mind (1983) Powerslave (1984) Somewhere in Time (1986) Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988) Brave New World (2000) Dance of Death (2003) A Matter of Life and Death (2006) The Final Frontier (2010)

Iron Maiden portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Adrian Smith A.S.A.P. Silver and Gold (1989) Psycho Motel State of Mind (1996) Welcome to the World (1997) Bruce Dickinson Main article: Bruce Dickinson discography Accident of Birth (1997) The Chemical Wedding (1998) Primal Rock Rebellion Awoken Broken (2012) Guest appearances Earthshaker - Earthshaker (1983) - "Dark Angels (Animals)" (writing credits only)[49] Hear 'n Aid – "Stars" (1985) Rock Aid Armenia – The Earthquake Album (1989) – "Smoke on the Water" Iron Maiden - Live at Donington (1992) - "Running Free" Michael Kiske – Instant Clarity (1996) – "The Calling", "New Horizons" Humanary Stew: A Tribute to Alice Cooper (also released as: Welcome to Nightmare: An All-Star Salute To Alice Cooper) (1998) – "Black Widow" Dave Colwell - Guitars, Beers & Tears (2010) - Lead vocals on "Reach Out"

Notes[link]

References[link]

Ole Scheeren (born 1971, Karlsruhe) is a German architect and principal of Büro Ole Scheeren with offices in in Beijing, Hong Kong and London and a visiting professor at Hong Kong University.^[1]

Career[link]

Ole Scheeren is currently working on a series of projects, including Angkasa Raya, a 268 meter tall landmark building in the center of Kuala Lumpur; a studio/gallery building for a Beijing-based artist; and a large-scale urban development in Singapore. His investigation and exploration of new prototypes for architecture at various scales also includes the development of a new kind of kinetic performing art space/arena, as well as an 800,000 square meter mixed-use development in Chongqing. Furthermore, Ole Scheeren is working on the design for an arts center in Beijing.

As former Partner and Director of Rem Koolhaas’ Office for Metropolitan Architecture in Beijing and Hong Kong, Scheeren directed the office's work across Asia. As partner-in-charge of OMA’s largest project to date he successfully led the realization of the China Central Television Station CCTV and the Television Cultural Centre (TVCC) in Beijing. Scheeren's other projects include MahaNakhon, a 310-meter mixed-use tower in the city of Bangkok; The Scotts Tower, featuring high-end apartments in Singapore; The Interlace, a 1000-unit large-scale residential complex in Singapore; a media centre in Shanghai; a project for Shenzhen’s new city centre; as well as the Taipei Performing Arts Centre in Taiwan. He directed OMA’s work for Prada and completed the Prada Epicenters in New York (2001) and Los Angeles (2004). He also led numerous other projects including the Beijing Books Building, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Leeum Cultural Center in Seoul, and a masterplan for Penang Island, Malaysia.

Before Ole Scheeren joined Rem Koolhaas and OMA in 1995 and became partner in 2002, he worked for architecture firms in Germany; collaborated with 2x4, a graphic design firm in New York; and was engaged in a range of projects through his own studio in the United Kingdom.

Ole Scheeren has contributed to various arts and culture projects and exhibitions throughout his career, including the International Highrise Award, Milan Triennale, China Design Now in London, Cities on the Move in London and Bangkok, Media City Seoul and the Rotterdam Film Festival. In 2006 he designed two exhibitions for the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Beijing featuring the CCTV project. He regularly lectures at various international institutions and conferences and serves on juries for awards and competitions.

Educated at the universities of Lausanne and Karlsruhe, he graduated from the Architectural Association in London and he was awarded the RIBA Silver Medal.

Awards[link]

• 2010: Best Architecture – Asia Pacific Property Awards (The Interlace)
• 2008: Architecture’s Ten Best – The New Yorker (CCTV)
• 2008: Best Building Site – Wallpaper* (CCTV)
• 2008: Best New Global Design – International Architecture Awards (CCTV)
• 2008: International Highrise Award, Frankfurt (TVCC, finalist)
• 2007: The World’s Most Ambitious Projects – The Times (CCTV)
• 2000: RIBA Silver Medal (Royal Institute of British Architects)
• 1997: Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
• 1990: Scheffel Medal (Student's Award in Baden-Württemberg)

External links[link]

• Büro Ole Scheeren - the official website
• FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, Der Zauberlehrling ist nun der Meister, by Dieter Bartetzko, Jul 19, 2011
• PORT MAGAZINE, Architecture: Beijing State of Mind , by Rory Olcayto, Mar 3, 2011
• ARCHITECTURAL RECORD, Newsmaker: Ole Scheeren, by Clifford Pearson, Jan, 2011
• RIBA JOURNAL, Chinese Walls, by Jan Carlos Kucharek, Nov, 2010
• THE ARCHITECTS’ JOURNAL, Superstar Scheeren Sets Up London Office, by Merlin Fulcher, Oct 7, 2010
• WALLPAPER, Squaring the Circle, by Aric Chen, April 22, 2010
• STRAITS TIMES, Unusual Suspect, by Tay Suan Chiang, Sep 5, 2009
• THE STANDARD, Building a Reputation, by Bonnie Chen, Aug 14, 2009
• INTERVIEW MAGAZINE, Ole Scheeren - Ground Up, by Felix Burrichter, Aug 5, 2009
• FINANCIAL TIMES, Metaphor for a Metropolis, by Edwin Heathcote, Jul 21, 2009
• THE NEW YORKER, Architecture’s Ten Best of 2008, by Paul Goldberger, Dec 17, 2008
• "China hat mich grundlegend verändert". Die Zeit. 2011-11-23. Archived from the original on 2011-11-29. http://www.webcitation.org/63YT7wygQ. Retrieved 2011-11-29. 
• "Ole Scheeren (interview, undated, approx. 2006-2008)". www.feedmecoolshit.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-28. http://www.webcitation.org/63WzCThHl. Retrieved 2011-11-28. 

References[link]