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[title]The demographic and economic boom driven by Vaca Muerta is no longer just a financial headline—it is now reshaping the city of Neuquén itself. On June 18, the National Museum of Fine Arts hosted the official presentation of Terraza Norte Food and Parking, an ambitious urban development spanning more than 25,000 square meters that aims to become the new gathering place of southern Argentina.
With an estimated private investment of US$40 million and a 24-month construction timeline, the project—designed by Estudio Sidoni & Asoc. together with Dínamo Arquitectura—moves away from the traditional enclosed shopping center model. Instead, it embraces an open-air experience: a series of terraces inspired by the organic forms of the Patagonian landscape, where gastronomy, social interaction, and design coexist within a single urban journey.
The ambition goes beyond commerce: to create a new urban landmark, a destination with its own identity where everyone will want to take a photo and that will become a symbol of the city.
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Eat & Drink: Food Hall and Premium Arcade
The heart of Terraza Norte will beat to the rhythm of its international-standard culinary offering, featuring more than 30 concepts curated by renowned chef Pablo Buzzo.
The dining area will include six high-end restaurant spaces within a thoughtfully designed urban arcade. In addition, a Food Hall will bring together 15 integrated concepts, alongside 10 independent venues dedicated to cafés and ice cream shops.
The food and beverage operation will also incorporate a centralized pickup-point system designed to streamline the visitor experience. This setup will allow guests to combine orders from different venues across the complex—from a main course in the Food Hall to a specialty coffee—and collect everything from a single location, optimizing both time and movement throughout the space.
Urban Life: Smart Parking and Activity Around the Clock
As mobility has become a daily challenge in downtown Neuquén, the project introduces a state-of-the-art solution: an intelligent underground parking facility with capacity for 650 vehicles. Through an app, visitors will be able to reserve a parking spot before leaving home, whether heading to a business meeting, a meal out, or a trip.
The parking facility will also enhance connectivity and safety through next-generation elevators that ensure full accessibility, as well as strategic entrances from Salta and 9 de Julio streets.
A combination of commercial, cultural, and social activities will ensure a steady flow of visitors throughout the day. The complex will feature strategic lighting, automated access control, and private security services to provide a safe experience 24 hours a day.
Arts & Culture: Neuquén’s First Urban Development Museum
Terraza Norte aims to be more than a commercial destination—it seeks to become a vehicle for local identity. To that end, the complex will house Neuquén’s First Urban Development Museum, a 220-square-meter space entirely dedicated to exploring the city’s architectural evolution, territorial expansion, and growth story.
The underground level will also include three integrated auditoriums, ideal for artistic performances, fashion shows, networking events, talks, and corporate gatherings.
The development is being led by the Acceso Norte Trust, formed by local companies Gran Valle Negocios, RJ Ingeniería, and Omega MLP. The project is being carried out through a public-private partnership with the municipal government. With this development, the transformation of downtown Neuquén is already underway, and the complex is expected to open its doors in 2027.
