NTI PILAR – Puma Energy – Trafigura

Location: Autopista Panamericana ramal Pilar (KM 43 ) Pcia de Buenos Aires – Argentina |Site Area: 3,173 m² | Built Area: 588 m² | Project Timeline: 2021–2024

Photography: Gala Cabrera

This project is a service center developed on a compact site located in Pilar, alongside the Pan-American Highway, near the city of Buenos Aires. The commission involved designing an architectural solution capable of accommodating a complex program that integrates a Starbucks and a Burger King, both with independent Drive Thru systems, a Super 7 Go convenience store operated by Puma Energy, and a parking area associated with the consumption zone. Complementing this foodvenience offering are fueling stations for both liquid fuels and electric charging, organized under a unified operational logic.

The architectural scheme is organized into two main volumes, connected by a bridge that leads to a shared upper-level terrace, conceived as an extension of the food service areas. The façades, composed of painted black masonry and volumetric metal cladding, provide a cohesive formal language for the complex while accommodating the individual graphic identities of each brand within a unified framework.

A continuous metal canopy spans the front of the two buildings, sheltering four fueling islands. Its exposed structure, composed of solid-web steel beams and cylindrical steel columns, becomes part of the project's expressive vocabulary. Above, the canopy incorporates a large-format LED screen, transforming the traditional static fascia of service stations into a dynamic platform for multimedia content.

The energy system includes 72 photovoltaic panels installed atop the canopy roof, visible from both the service yard and the entrances to the retail areas. The use of glass-glass technology allows the internal components of the panels to remain visible, integrating the energy system into the architectural language of the project.

Lighting was conceived as an additional expressive layer within the space. A series of suspended fixtures project warm, focused light over the consumption and circulation areas, while RGB wallwashers directed at the ceiling cast color onto the white background, generating a dynamic and immersive atmosphere.

The project was completed and inaugurated in 2024. It is currently in operation, establishing a new service station typology defined by high functional density and technological integration, aligned with emerging standards for mobility and consumer infrastructure.

Photography: Gala Cabrera