Bell Works Lab, Holmdel, New Jersey – film set for Severance on Apple TV+ [Image by Sharyn Morrow on Flickr]Apple TV’s sci-fi series Severance has caused quite a stir with its mind-blowing (or splitting) storyline. However, one thing that is amazing is the office building used as Lumon Industries’ headquarters in the series. It is an actual, real-life office building, located in Holmdel, New Jersey. Read on to find out how to visit Lumon’s office and maybe meet your “innie” along the way!
Visit Lumon Industry’s head office from Severance
Exterior view of Bell Works [Image by Acroterion on Wikimedia Commons]In recent years, set-jetting has become a popular mode of travel for fans of movies and TV shows and it turns out the film set of Severance is just under a one-hour drive from New York City. The building is the Bell Works Lab in Holmdel, New Jersey.
Meanwhile, Severance fans can explore the iconic Lumon office in the Bell Works building to get a true feel of the film set. According to Secret NYC, Bell Works, formerly named Bell Labs, was formerly the home of the Bell Telephone Company’s research lab.
Filming location for Severance [Image by Onyxsolar on Wikimedia Commons]It turns out the lab was where the first continuous laser beam and the transistor were invented. Who would have thought back then that the building would be a realistic film set for Apple TV+’s dystopian sci-fi series?
It turns out Bell Works is the ideal dystopian setting for Mark Scout (Adam Scott) and his friends to spend one life at work, before heading home for their other life.
About Bell Works
Bell Works Lab in Holmdel, New Jersey [Image by Peter Miller on Flickr]This modern, urban hub has now been repurposed for offices, stores and restaurants. Meanwhile, the building is characterized by its simplistic design, offering a sterile and dystopian appearance for the show. Meanwhile, the building’s exterior and lobby were used to portray Lumon Industries’ headquarters in Severance and the building is open to the public seven days a week.
According to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, season 2 of Severance attracted a $24 million bill for New Jersey. Meanwhile, the show is currently airing, with the finale set to drop on March 21, 2025.
‘Perfect backdrop’
Adam Scott and Mark Scout in Severance [Image @appletv on Instagram]Curbed quotes Jeremy Hindle, the production designer for Severance, saying:
I always felt a sense of power in these [corporate] spaces. They’re there to dominate you and make sure that you know the rules.
This made it the perfect backdrop for a show about a workplace with near-total control over its employees.
Speaking of the original 1962 design for Bell Labs, meant as an idealized office for innovation, Hindle said:
They really did try to create this perfect working, living world. People had dance shows, their own farmers’ markets — they had everything in that place. It was amazing. When I look at buildings like that, there’s pride in the corporation and pride in being part of it.
Other filming locations for Severance on Apple TV+
Besides the Bell Works building, other filming locations include Pip’s Bar & Grille and the Perpetuity Wing at the Hudson River Museum. Meanwhile, the TV town of Kier was inspired by the City of Beacon, and all sets were shot in New York State.