The 5 Most Unsettling Real-World Locations Where 'Severance' Was Filmed (Including Season 2 Updates)

The chilling, corporate labyrinth of Lumon Industries and the quaint, unsettling world of Kier are not just products of CGI and sound stages; they are built from a collection of very real, architecturally significant locations across the Northeastern United United States. As of December 2025, the latest updates confirm that the production for the Apple TV+ series, including scenes for the highly anticipated second season, utilized a diverse range of settings across New York’s Hudson Valley and New Jersey, meticulously chosen to enhance the show’s unique blend of retro-futurism and corporate dread.

The show's production team, led by Production Designer Jeremy Hindle, masterfully blended these real-world structures with meticulously crafted sets to create a world that feels both familiar and deeply alien. The result is a palpable sense of disorientation, where the outie world of small-town life clashes with the sterile, infinite corridors of the severed floor. The following guide reveals the actual buildings, parks, and diners that served as the backdrop for Mark Scout’s bifurcated existence.

The Real Lumon Industries: A Monument to Corporate Modernism

The towering, imposing exterior of Lumon Industries—the headquarters of the mysterious macrodata refinement division—is arguably the most iconic real-world location in the entire series. It perfectly encapsulates the show's unsettling corporate aesthetic.

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Bell Works: The Lumon Exterior in Holmdel, New Jersey

• Location: Holmdel, New Jersey.
• Real-Life Name: Bell Works (formerly the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex).
• Architectural Style: Mid-Century Modernism and Brutalism.

The exterior shots of Lumon Industries are filmed at the massive, glass-and-steel structure known as Bell Works. This complex, designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen, is a celebrated example of Mid-Century Modern architecture, which provides the perfect blend of sleek, optimistic futurism and cold, imposing scale that defines Lumon.

The building’s vast, open-air atrium and striking glass facade are instantly recognizable. The choice of Bell Works is a stroke of genius, as it was once a hub of scientific innovation (Bell Labs), mirroring the high-tech, secretive nature of Lumon’s operations. The sheer size of the building, which once housed thousands of employees, contributes to the feeling of the company's overwhelming power and reach over the fictional town of Kier.

Inside the Severed Floor: Architecture and Design Entities

While the exterior is real, the endless, white, fluorescent-lit corridors of the severed floor are elaborate sets built in a sound stage. However, their design is heavily influenced by specific architectural and design movements, lending the 'innie' world its unique, sterile dread.

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• Primary Architectural Influences: Production Designer Jeremy Hindle cited a blend of Mid-Century Modernism, Brutalism, and Retro-futurism as primary influences.
• Inspirational Figures: Hindle drew inspiration from the works of Brazilian modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer and the austere, repetitive office photography of Lars Tunbjörk.
• Furniture and Design: The minimalist, functional design philosophy of German industrial designer Dieter Rams heavily influenced the sparse furnishings. The set decoration, managed by Andrew Baseman (Season 1) and David Schlesinger (Season 2), often features vintage or custom pieces that feel slightly off-kilter, enhancing the uncanny valley effect.
• The Perpetuity Wing: The interior of the Perpetuity Wing, a space dedicated to the history of the Eagan family, was partially filmed at the Marine Park Golf Course in Brooklyn, New York, which then had set elements added to create the museum-like environment.

The Outie World: Exploring the Fictional Town of Kier, New York

The 'outie' world is set in the fictional town of Kier, a place seemingly subsidized and dominated by Lumon. The production team chose several charming but slightly melancholic towns in New York's Hudson Valley to create this environment, giving the area a distinct, timeless feel.

Beacon and Kingston: The True Face of Kier

The atmospheric downtown scenes of Kier, including the streets where Mark Scout (Adam Scott) lives and drives, were primarily filmed in two key Upstate New York towns:

• Beacon, NY: This town contributed significantly to the "Kier" aesthetic. Notably, the historic Dummy Light traffic signal in the center of Beacon was a prominent feature in several street scenes.
• Kingston, NY: Along with Beacon, Kingston was used extensively for the general town shots, providing the backdrop for Mark's daily life and the feeling of a small, contained community.

Mark's House and the Eagan Estate

The homes of the characters offer a stark contrast to Lumon's interior, yet they maintain a sense of isolation and subtle unease.

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• Mark Scout's Neighborhood: Mark's modest, isolated home and the surrounding neighborhood where he interacts with Mrs. Cobel (Patricia Arquette) were filmed in the greater Hudson Valley area, including parts of Ulster County, NY.
• Jame Eagan's Home: The stunning, modernist residence of the Eagan family patriarch is the real-life Taghkanic Glass House, located in Hudson, NY. This choice reinforces the Eagans' wealth and their connection to the modernist architectural style that defines Lumon.

Dining and Scenic Vistas: Season 1 & 2 Specific Locations

Beyond the main Lumon building and the town streets, several specific locations were used for memorable scenes, providing a sense of place for the outies' lives.

The Hudson Valley's Iconic Eateries and Natural Beauty

The show utilized several established local businesses to ground the 'outie' world in a recognizable, if slightly retro, reality.

• Ristorante De Matteo (Mark and Alexa's Date): The awkward dinner date between outie Mark and Alexa (Nikki M. James) was filmed at the Hudson House in Nyack, NY. This rustic-chic eatery provided the setting for one of the most tense and uncomfortable scenes of the first season.
• Pip's Diner: The quintessential diner where Mark and others meet is the actual Phoenicia Diner in Phoenicia, NY. In real life, it’s a cheerful, upscale spot, but the show gives it a bleak, isolated atmosphere.
• The Hudson River Museum: Scenes involving a museum setting were filmed at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, NY.

Updates on Season 2 Filming Locations

Filming for the second season continued to explore the natural and architectural beauty of the region, introducing new, expansive backdrops.

• Minnewaska State Park Preserve: For the more scenic, outdoor shots, including cliff and wooded areas, the production utilized the vast, natural landscape of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve, located approximately two and a half hours north of New York City. This location provides a dramatic contrast to the claustrophobic interiors of Lumon.
• The Gerald Luss House: As set decorator David Schlesinger took over for Season 2, the design continued to evolve. The home of Burt and Irving’s outie counterparts, including the use of expressive Mid-Century Modern furniture, was filmed at the Gerald Luss House, further cementing the show's deep connection to this architectural period.

The meticulous selection of these sites—from the imposing modernist structure of Bell Works to the quaint, historic streets of Beacon and the isolated beauty of Minnewaska State Park—is a testament to the show's commitment to creating a world that is both geographically grounded and psychologically unsettling. The true genius of Severance lies in its ability to transform these familiar New York and New Jersey settings into the disquieting, unforgettable world of Kier and Lumon, making the corporate thriller a must-visit for location scouts and architecture enthusiasts alike.