August 4 , 2008

Reducing Construction Project Costs in Tough Economic Times

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – August 4, 2008 – e-Builder, a provider of web-based capital program management and collaboration software, will host a webinar titled “Reducing Construction Project Costs in Tough Economic Times” on August 28th at 1 p.m. EDT, and led by Mr. Tom Koulouris, CGC, MBA, MHA, co-founder of Kolouris-Freyer, a South Florida Program Management Consultancy. Mr. Koulouris will discuss owner driven initiatives that focus on error reductions and effective due diligence during the planning phase, and how these provide savings of 10-15% off the total project cost. Registration is limited to professionals in the construction, architecture, and engineering industries. To register please visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/385592178.

As part of the discussion, Mr. Kolouris will talk about the strategies owners can undertake to deal with the variables that remain within their control in light of rising labor issues and materials costs. These strategies include the use of business processes and tools that allow their organizations to track, measure, and control costs from project kickoff through occupancy. Based on research and findings that make up his “Speed to Market” process, Mr. Koulouris will also delve into the challenges associated with low-bid vs. negotiated contracts, and the strategies owners should focus on to effect tangible and measurable project cost savings.

Key takeaways include:
• Understanding project cost vs. construction cost, the variables within owner control, and how to control these variables.
• The project plan – the 3 most common pitfalls that result in higher project cost.
• Winning strategies for planning and scope definition.
• Effective forecasting of project costs to take corrective action.
• Decreasing contingency early in the project.  

About the Speaker
Thomas W. Koulouris, CGC, MBA, MHA is co-owner of Koulouris-Freyer, Inc., (KFI), a leader in construction management services that handles all facets of planning and building, from conception to occupancy. KFI’s experience includes over $3 billion in expansion projects, spread out over more than 100 hospitals. The company’s “Speed to Market” is an innovative approach designed to increase project profitability by reducing construction time and determining the right size for a facility, resulting in maximized revenue. Projects include a $23 million satellite expansion and surgery center for the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the #1 eye hospital in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report; North Broward Hospital District in Fort Lauderdale, Imperial Point Medical Center emergency department expansions and replacements; Coral Springs Medical Center; Jupiter Medical Center—$300 million in combined project budgets; Broward General Hospital—a 450-bed facility.

About e-Builder
e-Builder provides web-based, capital project management and collaboration software to North America’s largest facility owners, architecture, engineering, and construction firms. The company’s flagship product, e-Builder Enterprise, provides clients with visibility into key project metrics through a centralized and collaborative project information management system. These metrics can be efficiently tracked across a single project or a large portfolio, and used to make informed decisions in response to issues driving on-time, on-budget project completion. e-Builder combines an intuitive software-as-a-service technology platform and more than 13 years of industry expertise to provide clients with solutions that simplify, automate, and streamline planning, design and construction processes. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, visit www.e-Builder.net.