When searching for the perfect location to bring the eerie corporate world of Severance to life, director of photography Jessica Lee Gagné embarked on a deep dive into architectural archives. She needed a building that exuded both grandeur and an unsettling coldness—something that would embody the nefarious aura of Lumon Industries.
A Serendipitous Discovery
While browsing online for abandoned malls, Gagné stumbled upon a blog showcasing haunting images of a midcentury office complex in decay. This structure, known as Bell Labs, had an air of eerie emptiness despite its stunning architectural elements—wraparound internal walkways, triangular skylights, a magnificent sunken lobby, and vast atrium planters that whispered of a once-thriving workspace.
Intrigued, she searched Bell Labs on Google Maps and found herself zooming into Holmdel, New Jersey—a quiet, rural town. The aerial view of the structure was astonishing. "This can’t be real," she thought.
The First Encounter
Within days, she and Severance director Ben Stiller set off for New Jersey. As they drove up the winding access road, they passed a looming three-legged white water tower, shaped almost like a transistor radio—a relic of the building’s past.
Despite renovations, the core essence of the place remained untouched. The developers had modernized parts of the interior, but the overwhelming feeling of corporate frigidity was intact. It was a stark, mirrored monolith that seemed tailor-made for Severance.
"There was a part of me that couldn’t believe how perfect it was," Gagné recalled, reflecting on the moment she first laid eyes on the structure in the summer of 2019. "It was this mind-blowing moment."
Bell Labs: The Perfect Dystopian Setting
Originally a research facility for Bell Telephone Laboratories, this architectural marvel was designed by Eero Saarinen in the 1960s. It served as a hub of innovation but, over time, fell into disuse. Its cavernous halls, geometric symmetry, and haunting emptiness made it the ideal setting for Severance—a show that explores the eerie intersection of corporate control and psychological manipulation.
By choosing Bell Labs as the real-life Lumon Industries, Severance not only found the perfect visual backdrop but also imbued its storytelling with an added layer of realism. The building, much like the series itself, blurs the line between the familiar and the unsettling—a world that is both captivating and chilling.
For fans of Severance, stepping into Bell Labs is like stepping directly into the heart of Lumon Industries. It’s a testament to how a carefully chosen location can elevate a show’s narrative, making fiction feel eerily real.
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