The 5 Real-Life Locations That Created Lumon: Where Was Severance Filmed?
The unsettling, sterile world of Lumon Industries is one of the most iconic and talked-about settings in modern television, and as of December 2025, fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter. The question of "where was *Severance* filmed" reveals a fascinating duality, much like the show itself, blending a single, massive real-world architectural marvel with carefully curated interior sets and the quaint, historic charm of Upstate New York towns.
The Apple TV+ series, which centers on the controversial "severance procedure" and the lives of the Macrodata Refinement team, was primarily shot across two key US states: New Jersey and New York. The production team meticulously scouted locations that could capture the show's unique mid-century modern, dystopian aesthetic, resulting in a physical world that feels both familiar and deeply alienating. The contrast between the imposing Lumon headquarters and the cozy, small-town life of Mark Scout (Adam Scott) is brought to life through a blend of architectural history and strategic set design.
The Imposing Headquarters of Lumon Industries: Bell Works, New Jersey
The most crucial and recognizable filming location for *Severance* is the colossal, glass-and-steel building that serves as the exterior and entrance of the Lumon Industries headquarters. This is not a CGI creation, but a real-life structure with a rich history.
The Real Lumon Building: Bell Works
The exterior and the vast, open atrium of Lumon are filmed at Bell Works in Holmdel, New Jersey. This building, formerly known as the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex, is an architectural masterpiece designed by the renowned Finnish-American modernist architect Eero Saarinen in 1958.
- Location: Holmdel, New Jersey.
- Original Purpose: It was a major research and development facility for Bell Labs, where groundbreaking work in telecommunications was conducted.
- Architectural Style: Mid-century modern, characterized by its clean lines, large glass facades, and monumental scale. This style perfectly captures the show's blend of retro-futurism and corporate coldness.
- Filming Use: The vast, sunlit atrium is used for the imposing entrance lobby of Lumon, where the "innies" and "outies" transition. The sheer scale of the building, which is about a one-hour drive from Manhattan, immediately establishes the corporate power of Lumon.
The decision to use Bell Works was a stroke of genius by the production team, as the building's history and design lend an authentic, almost museum-like quality to the fictional corporation. The building itself is a character in the show, representing the monolithic nature of Lumon.
The Chilling Interiors: The Severed Floor and Set Design
While the exterior is a single, iconic building, the unsettling, maze-like interiors of the "severed floor" are a combination of the real Bell Works and purpose-built sets in New York.
The Art of the Dystopian Office
The offices, hallways, and the iconic Macrodata Refinement (MDR) room were largely constructed on sound stages in New York City. The look was crafted by Emmy-winning Production Designer Jeremy Hindle, who was initially given the simple brief of "Large room, four desks" for the MDR space.
Hindle and the creative team, including director and executive producer Ben Stiller, drew inspiration from a unique blend of sources to achieve the disquieting aesthetic:
- Architectural Echoes: The interior design deliberately echoes the mid-century modern style of Eero Saarinen, creating a seamless, though unsettling, transition from the real-life exterior.
- Photographic Influence: The sterile, depersonalized look of the offices was heavily inspired by the work of Swedish photographer Lars Tunbjörk, particularly his book *Office*, which captures the mundane absurdity of corporate life.
- Cinematic Tones: The aesthetic has been described as a mashup of the corporate satire of *Office Space* with the stark, futuristic look of Stanley Kubrick's *2001: A Space Odyssey*.
- The Hallways: The impossibly long, featureless white hallways are a key feature, designed to disorient and emphasize the feeling of being trapped. They were constructed to feel like a never-ending labyrinth, forcing the characters—and the audience—to focus on the psychological isolation.
The interior sets were designed to be both believable and discombobulating, with a color palette dominated by white, beige, and muted blues, underscoring the emotional emptiness of the "innies" like Mark Scout, Dylan George, Irving Bailiff, and Helly Riggs.
The World Outside Lumon: The Town of Kier and Beyond
The fictional town of Kier, where the "outies" live their lives, provides a stark, cozy contrast to the brutalist architecture of Lumon. These scenes were primarily filmed in the scenic Hudson Valley region of New York State.
Upstate New York Filming Locations
The production team used several towns in the Hudson Valley to create the look of Kier, giving the town a sense of historic charm and quiet isolation.
- Kingston, NY: A significant portion of the exterior, residential, and town shots, including the streets where Mark Scout drives, were filmed in and around Kingston, New York. This historic city, known for its quaint architecture, was transformed into the ominous yet beautiful setting for the characters' "outie" lives.
- Port Ewen, NY: This small hamlet near Kingston was also used for various exterior shots, contributing to the quiet, suburban feel of Kier.
- Beacon, NY: Other scenes were shot in the city of Beacon, New York, which is also a popular filming location for its mix of historic and modern elements.
The Iconic Outdoor Scenes: Minnewaska State Park
One of the most memorable outdoor sequences—the infamous goat sequence and other nature-focused scenes—were filmed in a stunning natural location that breaks the monotony of the Lumon office and the suburban streets.
The breathtaking landscapes, including waterfalls and vast forests, were filmed at Minnewaska State Park, a 24,000-acre state park located just a couple of hours from New York City. This location, with its dramatic cliffs and pristine waters, provides a beautiful but isolated backdrop for key plot developments, emphasizing the mystery surrounding Lumon's true operations.
Key Entities and LSI Keywords from the Severance Filming World
The production of *Severance* is a masterclass in using real-world locations to build a fictional, hyper-stylized universe. The following entities and concepts are essential to understanding the show's physical and thematic world:
- Lumon Industries: The fictional, powerful, and mysterious corporation at the center of the series.
- The Severed Floor: The isolated, subterranean level of the Lumon building where the "innies" work.
- Innie/Outie: The two distinct personalities created by the severance procedure, a core concept of the show.
- Macrodata Refinement (MDR): The main department where Mark Scout, Helly R., Petey, and Seth Milchick work.
- Eero Saarinen: The architect of the Bell Works building, whose design is foundational to the show's aesthetic.
- Jeremy Hindle: The Emmy-winning Production Designer responsible for the iconic, sterile interior sets.
- Dan Erickson: The show's creator and showrunner.
- Ben Stiller: The director and executive producer who championed the show's unique visual style.
- Hudson Valley: The scenic region of New York State that provided the backdrop for the town of Kier.
- Bell Labs Holmdel Complex: The original name of the Bell Works building.
- Season 2: The forthcoming season, which continues to use many of these same locations, ensuring continuity.
- Lars Tunbjörk: The photographer whose work inspired the bleak, corporate aesthetic.
The meticulous choice of filming locations, from the massive Bell Works structure in New Jersey to the quiet streets of Kingston, NY, is what gives *Severance* its powerful, unsettling atmosphere. The show's physical world is a character unto itself, perfectly embodying the corporate dystopia created by Lumon Industries and the psychological prison of the severance procedure.
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