Apple TV+’s psychological sci-fi thriller Severance grips viewers with its surreal visual aesthetic and chilling depiction of work-life disconnection. But one question keeps popping up among fans: Where was Severance filmed? Or perhaps more accurately: Where is Severance set, and is that office building real?
From sterile corporate offices to snowy remote towns, the show’s haunting settings are a patchwork of real-world architecture, natural landscapes, and custom-built sets — all carefully chosen to reflect the story’s dualities: control vs. freedom, identity vs. anonymity, and routine vs. chaos.
The Real Lumon Building: Bell Works, Holmdel, New Jersey
The massive glass-and-concrete structure that serves as Lumon’s HQ is Bell Works in Holmdel, New Jersey — formerly Bell Labs. If you’ve ever wondered what the Lumon building looks like in real life, this is it.
Designed by legendary architect Eero Saarinen, Bell Works is a landmark of mid-century modernism, now reimagined as a tech and lifestyle complex. But in Severance, it becomes something more sinister — a symbol of control, corporate lore, and emotional disconnection.
The minimalist design, long hallways, and vast atrium mirror the psychological tension in the series and answer a key fan question: Where is Severance set when it comes to Lumon’s physical headquarters?
Originally Bell Labs, designed by architect Eero Saarinen in the 1960s.
A 2 million sq ft mid-century modern research facility, once home to Nobel-winning science and tech breakthroughs like the laser and fiber optics.
Transformed in 2013 into Bell Works, a “metroburb” — a mixed-use hub with offices, retail, dining, coworking spaces, a library, and event venues.
Known for its iconic mirror-glass façade and vast central atrium.
Located at 101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel, NJ, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
How Was the Floor Filmed? Inside York Studios, Bronx, NY
If you’re wondering how the office floor was filmed — the maze of white corridors, green carpeting, and mysterious break rooms — here’s your answer: it was entirely built from scratch at York Studios in the Bronx.
This is the actual Severance office building interior — not a real-world location, but a modular set designed to feel like a psychological trap.
The creative team constructed movable hallways and flexible office layouts to heighten disorientation and confinement. This unique Severance office space feels disconnected from time and place — which perfectly fits the story’s central theme of a severed consciousness.
Outside Lumon: Nyack, Kingston, Beacon & Yonkers
The contrast between work and personal life is visually represented by the warm, small-town feel of various Hudson Valley locations:
- Nyack served as Mark’s neighborhood and featured real locations like Two Villains Brewing.
- Kingston and Beacon were used for exterior shots and storefront scenes, giving us a peek into the outside world.
- The Perpetuity Wing — a museum-like area in Lumon — was filmed at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers.
These towns ground the series in a more human reality, reinforcing the uncanny divide between Lumon and everyday life.
Natural Settings: Minnewaska State Park
For Season 2, nature scenes were filmed in Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County. Awosting Falls and the surrounding wilderness appear in episodes that dive deeper into the subconscious and escape.
The vastness of the landscape becomes symbolic — nature is freedom, Lumon is control. A striking contrast to the Severance office building scenes filmed in the Bronx.
Located in Ulster County, NY, atop the Shawangunk Ridge, about 1.5 hours from NYC.
Covers over 22,000 acres of scenic cliffs, forests, lakes, and waterfalls.
Home to Awosting Falls (65 ft tall), featured in Severance Season 2.
Offers 50+ miles of hiking trails and 35 miles of carriage roads for hiking, biking, and climbing.
Includes sky lakes, such as Lake Minnewaska and Lake Awosting.
Recognized for rare ecosystems, ice caves, and bird habitats.
Managed by NY State Parks and Palisades Interstate Park Commission.
Kier, The Fictional Town — Filmed in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
To portray Kier, the remote town where Lumon operates, the show expanded to Canada for Season 2. The cold, snowy terrain of Newfoundland and Labrador created an atmosphere of isolation and mystery.
Filming Timeline
- Season 1 (2020–2021): Filmed at Bell Works (NJ), York Studios (Bronx), and Hudson Valley towns.
- Season 2 (2022–2024): Added Minnewaska State Park and Canada’s Newfoundland & Labrador.
Set Design as Storytelling
The show’s design choices elevate every location into something psychological:
- The Severance office space is sterile and timeless.
- The Lumon building is real but transformed.
- The outdoor locations show warmth, unpredictability, and danger.
Even if you don’t notice it consciously, the architecture of Severance is doing major narrative work.
Final Thoughts
With a mix of New Jersey modernism, Bronx soundstages, Hudson Valley charm, and Canadian wilderness, Severance creates an unforgettable visual language rooted in real locations. And that just makes the mystery even more real.
