St.Lukes Launceston head office to include insurer’s first foray into dentistry

With its unique seven-storey timber office tower due for completion in December, the developer has provided a further update on the project, including a first-of-its-kind tenant. See who.

Artist's render of St.Lukes Health head office at 89-93 Cimitiere St, Launceston. Picture: Terroir

The new $27m St.Lukes Health headquarters in Launceston, a seven-storey timber development that will be the city’s tallest office block when completed in December, will host the healthcare provider’s first foray into dentistry.

First unveiled in late 2021, the 89–93 Cimitiere St development will host 135 St.Lukes employees across two floors, chartered accountants Newton & Henry across a third floor, while the insurer will also open its first dental practice in the tower.

The St.Lukes Health Dental Practice will be the first of a group of new practices planned across Tasmania in a bid to ease the pressure on the state’s dental system, Chief Health Officer Luke Cameron said.

Artist's impression of the new St.Lukes Health head office at 89-93 Cimitiere St, Launceston. Picture: Terroir/St.Lukes Health

“With 16,500 Tasmanians waiting for non-emergency oral healthcare on Tasmania’s public dental system, we are keen to provide affordable and accessible services, supplementing and supporting existing dental health services in the state,” he said.

“Affordable and accessible dental care in Tasmania is a real and worsening challenge, with the number of dentists in Tasmania falling short of the national average by 25 per cent, placing considerable pressure on access.

“St.Lukes Health has a long history of supporting oral health providers in Tasmania. Our entry into this market as a provider strengthens our commitment to both the industry and Tasmanians seeking access to essential oral healthcare.”

Artist's render of St.Lukes Health head office at 89-93 Cimitiere St, Launceston. Picture: Terroir

The insurer plans on opening dental clinics in the state’s North-West and in greater Hobart in future.

The 5500 sqm, 28.5m-tall building, built in order to coalesce a St.Lukes workforce currently scattered across four different locations in the city, is set to be Launceston’s tallest office block when completed in December.

St.Lukes chief executive Paul Lupo said that further details about new tenants was “commercial in confidence,” but that “we have more expressions of interest than floor space available at the moment and are currently working with eight interested parties”.

CEO of St.Lukes, Paul Lupo. Picture: Linda Higginson

First tenants are expected to move into the development in February 2024.

The Mercury previously reported that the ground level will comprise food and beverage/retail tenancies, while the mezzanine level will house a variety of not-for-profit health service offices.

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The project is unique not only for its height, but also its timber construction method.

According to the Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board, the development, via its cross-laminated timber construction, will remove “7,665 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere – the equivalent emissions of 2,141 cars driving 20,000km per year”.

St.Lukes Health head office development, 89-93 Cimitiere St Launceston. Picture: Alex Treacy

“The... project will be the most sustainable and carbon-positive office development in Tasmania, and the targeted 40 per cent reduction in carbon will make it one of the first net zero carbon projects in Australia,” the board said.

Mr Lupo added that there had also been cost benefits to the company from the timber construction.

“Timber construction has been as quick as six days per floor compared to six weeks for traditional methods,” he said.

Originally published as St.Lukes Launceston head office to include insurer’s first foray into dentistry