If you are hooked on Apple TV+'s mind-bending show Severance you are probably fascinated by Lumon Industries. The eerie office building is practically a character itself. Guess what? You can actually visit the real-life Lumon building because it exists and it is way cooler than you might imagine.

From Tech Hub to TV Sensation: Bell Works in New Jersey Is the Real Lumon

Forget those sterile white hallways and creepy vibes for a second. The building that stands in as Lumon headquarters is actually Bell Works in Holmdel New Jersey. This place has a seriously impressive history way before it became famous on TV. Back in the day it was Bell Laboratories a major research center for AT&T.

Think about it this is where some truly groundbreaking stuff happened. Cell phone technology lasers fiber optics – all had roots in Bell Labs. Researchers there even snagged nine Nobel Prizes! This wasn't just some office park it was a hub of innovation in the mid-20th century. The complex a massive two million square feet was designed back in 1962 by the architect Eero Saarinen a mid-century master. Saarinen gave it this imposing geometric look using glass and steel. From the outside it’s sharp-edged and lets you see out but not in kind of mysterious right?

Fast forward a bit and after some corporate changes the building was empty by 2007. But it got a second life! In 2013 a developer named Ralph Zucker revamped it into Bell Works. Now it is this awesome mixed-use space with modern offices stores restaurants and event spots. It is totally open to the public on the lower levels.

Become a Severance Tourist: Visiting Bell Works and Channeling Your Inner Innie (or Outie)

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Thanks to Severance Bell Works has become a hot spot for fans. People are flocking there to see the real Lumon building take pictures and imagine they are stepping into the show. Just check out TikTok and you will see tons of videos of "Severance" tourists exploring Bell Works.

Ralph Zucker the guy who redeveloped Bell Works mentioned they have seen a big jump in visitors since Severance got popular. While there are no official Lumon tours you can totally visit and wander around the public areas especially the huge central atrium you see in the show. Just be respectful because people actually work there.

You can explore the lobby snap some pics and feel like you are part of the Severance world. Sadly you can't get up to the severed floors – Mr. Milchick probably wants to keep that MDR department private.

Bell Works has actually been a filming location for other shows like American Horror Story and Emergence. But Severance really put it on the map as this iconic mysterious corporate building.

From Bell Labs to Lumon Interiors: The Design Magic Behind Severance

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While Bell Works provides the imposing exterior and some lobby scenes most of the eerie Lumon office interiors you see in Severance were created on soundstages in New York. The show's production designer Jeremy Hindle drew inspiration from another Eero Saarinen building the John Deere World Headquarters in Illinois for the Lumon vibe.

Hindle wanted to create a sense of being trapped in the MDR office so he designed it as almost a playground but a very unsettling one. The maze-like hallways low ceilings sterile white walls and those signature deep green carpets all contribute to that feeling of corporate dystopia and a kind of sterile survival the innies experience.

Planning Your Lumon Visit? Things to Know Before You Go to Bell Works

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  1. Location: Bell Works is located in Holmdel New Jersey about an hour from New York City. Perfect for a day trip if you are in the area.
  2. Public Access: The lower levels including the central atrium lobby shops and restaurants are open to the public seven days a week.
  3. No Official Tours: There are no official Severance tours so you will be exploring on your own.
  4. Respectful Visiting: Remember Bell Works is a working building with offices and businesses. Be mindful of people working there and keep noise levels down.
  5. Upper Levels Off-Limits: You cannot access the upper office levels which stand in for the severed floors in Severance. Stick to the public areas.
  6. Free to Visit: There is no cost to enter Bell Works and explore the public spaces.

Step into the Severance World (IRL): Bell Works Blends Fiction and Reality

So if you are a Severance devotee a visit to Bell Works is a must-do pilgrimage. It is a unique experience to see the real building that embodies Lumon Industries. You can walk the halls imagine the innies and outies and maybe even ponder the mysteries of severance yourself. It is a cool mix of TV magic architectural history and a chance to connect with your favorite show in a tangible way. Just remember to stay respectful and maybe avoid asking anyone if they have been severed.