In the realm of thought-provoking television, Apple TV+’s “Severance” stands out as a mind-bending thriller series that’s captured audiences worldwide. Created by Dan Erickson, this show has not only enthralled viewers with its intricate plot but also mesmerized them with its distinct visual aesthetic.
A significant part of this visual allure comes from the carefully chosen filming locations that bring the mysterious world of Lumon Industries to life. Let’s embark on a journey to explore the real-world places that form the backdrop of this captivating series.
The Unsettling World of Lumon Industries: Setting the Stage
Before we dive into the specifics of where “Severance” was filmed, it’s crucial to understand the premise that makes these locations so vital to the storytelling.
The show revolves around Lumon Industries, a biotechnology corporation that practices a controversial “severance” procedure. This technique surgically divides employees’ memories between their work and personal lives, creating a stark separation between their “innie” (work self) and “outie” (outside-work self).
The corporate atmosphere of Lumon is characterized by:
Stark, minimalist interiors
Labyrinthine office layouts
A blend of retro and futuristic elements
An ever-present sense of mystery and unease
These elements combine to create a unique visual language that’s integral to the show’s narrative. The filming locations chosen play a crucial role in bringing this unsettling world to life, enhancing the sense of isolation and disorientation experienced by the characters.
The Heart of Lumon: Exploring the Main Office Location
Bell Labs Holmdel Complex, New Jersey: A Modernist Marvel
At the core of “Severance’s” visual identity is the main office of Lumon Industries. This iconic location is none other than the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex in New Jersey. Designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen in 1962, this building is a masterpiece of mid-century modernist architecture.
“The moment I saw the Bell Labs building, I knew it was our Lumon.” – Ben Stiller, Executive Producer and Director
Key facts about the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex:
Built in 1962
2 million square feet of space
6 stories tall
Features a distinctive mirror-like exterior
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The complex’s vast, open interiors and long corridors provided the perfect canvas for the production team to create the eerie, maze-like offices of Lumon.
The building’s unique architecture, with its emphasis on clean lines and open spaces, aligns perfectly with the show’s retro-futuristic aesthetic.
Transformation for the Show
The production team went to great lengths to adapt the Bell Labs complex for “Severance.” They created:
The iconic white corridors of the “severed floor”
The break room, where employees face mysterious punishments
The perpetuity wing, showcasing Lumon’s bizarre history
The macrodata refinement department, where much of the action takes place
By carefully selecting and modifying specific areas of the complex, the team managed to create a cohesive yet disorienting environment that perfectly encapsulates the show’s themes of control and isolation
New York: The Canvas for Severance’s Eerie Atmosphere
While the Bell Labs complex serves as the heart of Lumon, much of “Severance” was filmed across various locations in New York state. These locations contribute significantly to the show’s overall atmosphere and help create a believable world beyond the office walls.
Nyack, NY: Stand-in for the Fictional Kier, PE
The charming village of Nyack, located in Rockland County, New York, serves as the exterior setting for many of the show’s “outie” scenes.
This picturesque location along the Hudson River provides a stark contrast to the sterile interiors of Lumon, highlighting the division between the characters’ work and personal lives.
Notable Nyack locations featured in “Severance”:
Main Street: Used for various exterior shots
Pickwick Book Shop: Appears in several scenes
The Hudson House: Serves as a backdrop for outdoor sequences
The quaint, small-town feel of Nyack adds to the show’s underlying sense of unease, suggesting a world that seems normal on the surface but harbors deep secrets.
Kingston, NY: Adding to the Retro-Futuristic Vibe
Kingston, a city in Ulster County, New York, also plays a significant role in creating the show’s unique atmosphere. Its mix of historic architecture and more modern structures aligns perfectly with “Severance’s” blend of retro and futuristic elements.
Key Kingston locations:
The Senate House State Historic Site: Provides a backdrop for several exterior scenes
The Roundout neighborhood: Its 19th-century buildings contribute to the show’s timeless feel
Kingston Point Beach: Featured in outdoor sequences
By utilizing these locations, the production team creates a world that feels both familiar and slightly off-kilter, mirroring the disorientation experienced by the show’s characters.
Other Key New York Locations
Westchester County: Corporate Realism
Westchester County, known for its mix of suburban and corporate landscapes, provided several key locations for “Severance.” Most notably, the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals campus in Tarrytown was used for some exterior shots of Lumon Industries.
This real-world pharmaceutical company’s modern campus lends authenticity to the portrayal of Lumon as a cutting-edge biotech firm, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Mount Pleasant: Educational Institutions Repurposed
In Mount Pleasant, the Hawthorne Cedar Knolls School served as another filming location. This former residential treatment center and special act school district provided unique architectural elements that the production team incorporated into various scenes.
The school’s institutional feel, with its long hallways and uniform architecture, aligns well with the show’s themes of conformity and control.
The Magic of Set Design: Creating Lumon’s Interior World
While many exterior shots were filmed on location, a significant portion of “Severance’s” interior scenes were created on soundstages. The primary location for these interior sets was Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York.
At Kaufman Astoria Studios, the production team meticulously crafted the interior world of Lumon Industries. This included:
The severed floor with its iconic white corridors
The break room
The perpetuity wing
Various office spaces and meeting rooms
The level of detail in these sets is astounding, with every element carefully chosen to contribute to the show’s unsettling atmosphere. From the retro computer terminals to the bizarrely sparse break room, each set piece plays a role in building the world of “Severance.”
Beyond the Office: Outdoor Filming Locations
While much of “Severance” takes place within the confines of Lumon Industries, the show also features several outdoor locations that help flesh out the characters’ “outie” lives and the world beyond the office walls.
Bear Mountain State Park: Nature as a Contrast
Bear Mountain State Park, located in Rockland and Orange Counties, New York, serves as a backdrop for several outdoor scenes. The park’s natural beauty provides a stark contrast to the sterile interiors of Lumon, emphasizing the divide between the characters’ work and personal lives.
Key features of Bear Mountain State Park used in filming:
Hiking trails
Scenic overlooks
Perkins Memorial Drive
These natural settings not only add visual variety to the show but also serve as metaphors for the characters’ journey towards self-discovery and freedom.
The Impact of Location on Storytelling
The carefully chosen locations in “Severance” do more than just provide a backdrop for the action. They play a crucial role in enhancing the show’s themes and creating its unique atmosphere.
Blending Retro and Modern Elements
One of the most striking aspects of “Severance’s” visual style is its blend of retro and modern elements. This is achieved through a combination of:
Mid-century modern architecture (Bell Labs complex)
This mix creates a sense of temporal disorientation, mirroring the confusion experienced by the characters as they navigate between their “innie” and “outie” lives.
Isolation and Control
The locations chosen for “Severance” also reinforce the themes of isolation and control that are central to the show’s narrative. The vast, labyrinthine interiors of Lumon Industries, created both on location and on soundstages, emphasize the characters’ sense of being lost and controlled within the corporate structure.
Meanwhile, the exterior locations, with their more open and natural settings, represent the freedom and self-determination that the characters are denied in their work lives.
Behind the Scenes: Challenges and Triumphs
Creating the world of “Severance” was no small feat, and the production team faced numerous challenges in bringing this vision to life.
COVID-19 Impact on Filming
The production of “Severance” coincided with the global COVID-19 pandemic, which presented unique challenges for location filming. The team had to:
Implement strict safety protocols
Limit the number of people on set
Be flexible with location choices due to restrictions
Despite these challenges, the production team managed to create a cohesive and immersive world for the show.
Insights from the Production Team
Ben Stiller, who directed six of the nine episodes in the first season, has spoken about the importance of the locations in creating the show’s atmosphere:
“We wanted to create a world that felt both familiar and slightly off. The locations we chose, especially the Bell Labs building, were crucial in achieving that balance.”
Production designer Jeremy Hindle also emphasized the role of the locations in storytelling:
“Every location, every set piece, was chosen with the goal of reinforcing the show’s themes. We wanted the audience to feel the same sense of disorientation and unease that the characters experience.”
Severance’s Visual Legacy
The unique visual style of “Severance,” largely driven by its carefully chosen locations, has left a lasting impact on viewers and the television industry as a whole.
Resonance with Viewers
The show’s distinct aesthetic has resonated strongly with audiences, sparking discussions and theories about the significance of various locations and set designs. Fans have pored over details, from the layout of the Lumon offices to the subtle differences between the “innie” and “outie” worlds.
Influence on Future Productions
The success of “Severance” in creating a unique and immersive world through its use of locations is likely to influence future productions. The show demonstrates the power of thoughtful location choices in enhancing storytelling and creating a memorable viewing experience.
Tourism Impact
The prominence of real-world locations in “Severance” has also sparked interest in film tourism. Locations like the Bell Labs complex and the town of Nyack have seen increased interest from fans eager to experience the world of the show firsthand.
Conclusion: The Artistry of Severance’s World-Building
The filming locations of “Severance” are more than just backdrops; they’re integral components of the show’s narrative and thematic elements.
From the imposing Bell Labs complex to the quaint streets of Nyack, each location has been carefully chosen to contribute to the show’s unique atmosphere of mystery, disorientation, and corporate dystopia.
As we look forward to future seasons of “Severance,” it will be fascinating to see how the show continues to use its locations to expand and deepen its world. The artistry demonstrated in the first season sets a high bar, promising even more visually stunning and thematically rich environments in episodes to come.
Whether you’re a fan of the show or simply interested in the art of filmmaking, the locations of “Severance” offer a masterclass in how physical spaces can be used to enhance storytelling, create atmosphere, and bring a fictional world to vivid life.
FAQs: Unraveling the Mysteries of Severance’s Settings
Q: Can fans visit the Lumon office building? A: Yes, the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex, which serves as the exterior of Lumon Industries, is open to the public as part of the Bell Works redevelopment project. However, the interior spaces used in the show were largely created on soundstages.
Q: Where was the waffle party scene filmed? A: The infamous waffle party scene was filmed on a specially designed set at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York.
Q: Are any of the exterior house scenes filmed on location? A: Yes, many exterior house scenes were filmed on location in towns like Nyack and Kingston, New York, to create a realistic suburban environment.
Q: How much of the show is filmed on soundstages vs. real locations? A: While exact percentages aren’t public, a significant portion of the interior Lumon scenes were filmed on soundstages at Kaufman Astoria Studios.
However, many exterior shots and “outie” scenes were filmed on location in various parts of New York and New Jersey.
Q: Were any international locations used in filming? A: As of the first season, all known filming locations for “Severance” were in the United States, specifically in New York and New Jersey. No international locations have been reported as part of the production.
David Lee is a seasoned writer specializing in filming locations. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for cinema, David explores the stories behind iconic sites and shares unique insights that bring your favorite films and series to life.
