How a historic tech hub became the eerie home of Lumon Industries
The unsettling, cult-like corporate environment of Severance may seem like pure fiction, but did you know that parts of the show are filmed in a real office complex? Bell Works, located in Holmdel, New Jersey, serves as the backdrop for Lumon Industries, the mysterious biotechnology company at the heart of the Apple TV+ series.
Unlike the sterile, isolated underground offices of Lumon, Bell Works is a thriving space filled with restaurants, shops, and innovative businesses. Once home to Bell Labs—one of the most important research centers in history—the building has undergone a remarkable transformation, proving that reality can be just as fascinating as fiction.
From Bell Labs to Bell Works: A Legacy of Innovation
Before becoming a TV icon, Bell Works was known as Bell Labs, a groundbreaking research facility founded in 1962 for AT&T. The 2-million-square-foot building housed over 6,000 employees and played a pivotal role in technological advancements, including:
The theory for the laser
Key developments in the Big Bang Theory
The receiving end of the first cellphone call
After years of inactivity, Inspired by Somerset Development purchased the building in 2013 for $27 million and rebranded it as Bell Works—a modern “metroburb” (a metropolitan hub in a suburban setting). Today, the space includes high-end office spaces, event venues, a basketball court, an indoor golf simulator, and even a luxurious caviar service.
Bringing Severance to Life: Filming at Bell Works
While much of Severance is filmed on carefully designed soundstages, Bell Works plays a key role in establishing the show’s haunting atmosphere. Filming locations within the building include:
The exterior and entrance
The parking lot
The massive, skylit central atrium
However, the stark white hallways and signature green-carpeted offices were custom-built for the show. Production designer Jeremy Hindle explained the choice of colors:
“Green is the most common color to the eye—it’s calming. We wanted the environment to feel familiar yet unnerving.”
Despite the show’s eerie aesthetic, the real Bell Works is far from gloomy. Its lively atrium is home to over 70 vendors, including restaurants, a fitness center, and major companies like Guardian Life and Jersey Central Power & Light.
A Major Investment in New Jersey’s Film Industry
New Jersey has become a hotspot for Hollywood productions, and Severance is no exception. The show’s first season contributed $5.1 million to the state’s economy, while the second season’s production spending jumped to over $24 million across three years.
Other filming locations in New Jersey include:
Kings Landing – A luxury condominium complex in Middletown
Palisades Interstate Park – Offering scenic views of the Hudson River
Phoenicia Diner – A charming Catskills diner used as Pip’s Bar & Grille in the series
A Real-Life Space with a Fictional Legacy
Although Severance portrays Bell Works as a dystopian corporate maze, the real building tells a very different story. Once a center for world-changing innovations, it has now been reimagined as a dynamic space where businesses, entrepreneurs, and creatives come together.
For fans of Severance, visiting Bell Works offers a unique opportunity to step into the show’s world—minus the mind-altering “severance” procedure. Whether you’re grabbing a cocktail at the on-site bar or exploring the stunning atrium, one thing is certain: Bell Works is where history, technology, and pop culture collide.
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