The real-world locations of Severance make its eerie world feel unsettlingly real.
The Apple TV+ thriller Severance creates a chilling, dystopian reality that feels both familiar and deeply unsettling. Its sterile corporate offices, bleak small-town streets, and isolated landscapes make it seem like the show was filmed in some eerie, alternate universe. But in reality, every scene was shot in real-world locations across New York, New Jersey, and even Canada.
Instead of relying on elaborate soundstages, the show’s creators chose real buildings, towns, and landscapes to bring Severance to life. The result? A world that feels both ordinary and deeply unnatural, mirroring the psychological tension at the heart of the series. Whether it’s the strikingly futuristic halls of Lumon Industries or the quiet streets of Mark Scout’s hometown, these filming locations prove that the show’s unsettling aesthetic isn’t just clever cinematography—it’s rooted in real places.
If you’ve ever wondered where Severance was filmed, these 10 locations might surprise you.
1. Bell Works in Holmdel, New Jersey is the real-life Lumon Industries.
The futuristic, maze-like offices of Lumon Industries aren’t a Hollywood set—they’re very real. The show’s corporate headquarters were filmed at Bell Works, a massive, mid-century modern building in Holmdel, New Jersey, according to the writes at Atlas of Wonders. Originally built as Bell Labs, this historic research facility was once home to groundbreaking scientific discoveries before being repurposed as a mixed-use space.
Its sprawling, symmetrical hallways and brutalist architecture made it the perfect setting for Lumon’s sterile, unsettling aesthetic. The reflective ceilings, cavernous workspaces, and almost hypnotic lighting design helped transform Bell Works into a place that feels at once corporate and otherworldly. The building’s real-world history adds another eerie layer—just like Lumon, it was once a center of innovation, where groundbreaking (and sometimes unsettling) discoveries were made.
2. Nyack, New York is home to Mark Scout’s eerie suburban life.
Mark’s life outside of Lumon takes place in the quiet, almost too-perfect town of Nyack, New York. The show filmed many key exteriors in the Village Gate Townhouses, where Mark’s home and Mrs. Selvig’s residence are located. These townhouses, with their uniform design and muted color palette, add to the show’s unsettling, controlled feel, according to Shaye Weaver of TimeOut.
Other notable Nyack filming locations include Hudson House, the cozy yet ominous restaurant where Mark has his date in Season 1, and the Gulf Gas Station on Route 9W, which appears multiple times throughout the series. By using a real town instead of a fabricated set, Severance makes Mark’s off-work life feel just as eerie as his time inside Lumon—hinting that, no matter where he goes, he’s never truly free.
3. Westchester County, New York holds multiple key locations.
Several important locations from Severance were filmed in Westchester County, New York. Devon and Ricken’s house—the idyllic, yet strangely sterile refuge outside of Lumon—is actually The Bier House, located in the Usonia Historic District, as reported by Doug Klostermann.
Another key Westchester location is Trinity Lutheran Church in White Plains, which was used for Petey’s funeral scene. The church’s stark architecture and muted tones add to the show’s signature sense of unease, making even a funeral scene feel strangely clinical.
4. Beacon, New York doubles as the mysterious town of Kier.
The fictional town of Kier, where Lumon dominates every aspect of life, was largely filmed in Beacon, New York. With its quaint yet slightly desolate downtown, Beacon provided the perfect location for the unsettlingly controlled atmosphere of Kier.
Beacon’s real-world charm is transformed into something far more eerie on screen. The town’s streets, storefronts, and quiet corners become part of Severance’s haunting landscape, reinforcing the idea that Kier is a place where normalcy is a facade hiding something much darker.
5. Marine Park Golf Course in Brooklyn was transformed into the Goat Wrangling Department.
Season 2 introduces the bizarre Goat Wrangling Department, a surreal, almost dreamlike addition to Lumon’s underground operations. But rather than filming this scene on a farm or building a custom set, the show’s creators used Marine Park Golf Course in Brooklyn, New York.
This sprawling green space was cleverly transformed into one of Lumon’s strangest (and most unsettling) departments. The choice to film in an otherwise normal outdoor location adds to the disorienting nature of Severance, making the surreal elements feel even more intrusive and unexpected.
6. Mohonk Preserve Testimonial Gateway in New Paltz became the Damona Birthing Retreat.
Season 2 takes us to an entirely new setting—the Damona Birthing Retreat, a secluded, cult-like wellness center. The eerie, fortress-like entrance to this retreat was filmed at the Mohonk Preserve Testimonial Gateway in New Paltz, New York.
This striking historic structure, originally built as an entrance to Mohonk Mountain House, already has an air of mystery. Its towering stone facade and isolated location made it the perfect choice for the unnervingly tranquil retreat, where characters face some of the season’s most cryptic and surreal moments.
7. Minnewaska State Park Preserve was used for eerie outdoor scenes.
For scenes set in the Dieter Eagan National Forest and the hauntingly named Woe’s Hollow, Severance used the breathtaking yet eerie landscapes of Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County, New York.
This vast wilderness, with its dense forests, steep cliffs, and misty lakes, adds an almost supernatural element to the show’s outdoor sequences. It’s a place that feels both vast and claustrophobic—a perfect metaphor for the way Lumon controls even the spaces that seem free.
8. Kingston, New York provides the backdrop for Irving’s apartment.
Irving’s brooding, solitary existence outside of Lumon is set against the backdrop of Kingston, New York. The exterior shots of his apartment were filmed at the Waterfront at the Strand Apartments, which overlook the Hudson River.
The show also features the Kingston-Port Ewen Suspension Bridge, a striking structure that adds to the show’s cold, industrial aesthetic. Kingston’s blend of historic architecture and quiet, small-town isolation mirrors Irving’s internal conflict—his deep longing for meaning outside of Lumon contrasted with his struggle to break free from its control.
9. Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada became Cobel’s eerie hometown.
In Season 2, viewers get a glimpse into Cobel’s hometown, Salt’s Neck, a bleak coastal town that seems frozen in time. These scenes were filmed in Bonavista and Keels, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada—small fishing towns known for their rugged, dramatic landscapes.
The harsh, windswept scenery perfectly captures the isolation and mystery surrounding Cobel’s past. The decision to shoot in Newfoundland adds a layer of raw, natural beauty to the series, while also making the show’s world feel even more expansive and mysterious.
10. Utica Union Station in Utica, New York plays a key role in Season 2.
One of the most visually striking locations in Severance Season 2 is Utica Union Station, a historic train station in Utica, New York. This grand, old-world building appears prominently in Episode 9, providing an almost dreamlike contrast to Lumon’s sterile corporate spaces.
The station’s intricate architecture and timeless design add to the show’s uncanny atmosphere. It’s a place that feels disconnected from time—a perfect fit for a series that constantly blurs the lines between reality and illusion.