Fans of the Apple TV+ series “Severance” experienced a blend of corporate surrealism over the weekend when the Bell Works building in Holmdel, New Jersey—used as the setting for Lumon Industries in the show—hosted a temporary immersive event. On April 5, this architectural landmark transformed into a real-life Lumon environment, offering a museum-like exhibition that intertwined fiction with fan enthusiasm. The event showcased meticulously curated set recreations, menus inspired by the series, exclusive branded merchandise, and notably, a themed waffle party.
The weekend activation captured the show’s distinct aesthetic, providing visitors with a tangible glimpse into its unsettling depiction of office life. The Bell Works facility, previously home to the renowned Bell Labs and now owned by Nokia, was selected as a location for “Severance” due to its fitting atmosphere. Production designer Jeremy Hindle expressed that the site was an ideal match for the show’s eerie tone, describing it as a location that “made our heads explode.”
Originally designed to be a welcoming environment for the families of scientists and engineers, Bell Labs shares an uncanny resemblance to the fictional Lumon Industries, though as Hindle pointed out, Lumon’s narrative took a divergent path. On Saturday evening, a VIP event featured a question-and-answer session with the cast, moderated by Stephen Colbert, host of “The Late Show,” and attended by numerous stars of the series.