Modernist building in Holmdel is the setting for high-profile ‘Severance’ series.
By Sunayana Prabhu
HOLMDEL – When the hit Apple TV+ series “Severance” needed a distinctive setting to bring its dystopian corporate world to life, the show’s producers found the perfect backdrop in an unlikely place: Bell Works.
But in real life, the sprawling mixed-use development in Holmdel is designed to foster the opposite of the corporation at the center of the dark series – instead offering connection, community and balance.
Ben Stiller is the co-executive producer of the show and has also directed a few episodes of the workplace thriller, now streaming its second season. “Severance” was written and created by Dan Erickson. Adam Scott (also a producer) plays the main protagonist, Mark Scout, an employee of Lumon Industries. Each day, after finishing work, Mark and his colleagues leave the office with no recollection of what happened while they were inside, thanks to a procedure that severs their memories, creating a divide between their professional and personal lives. The story becomes more compelling as Mark and his team embark on a journey to uncover the truth about their alternate selves.
“Severance” has extensively featured Bell Works’ modernist architecture, which spans nearly 2 million square feet, throughout both the first and second seasons.
The series has earned widespread critical acclaim, including two Emmy Awards in 2022, and continues to captivate audiences with its unsettling atmosphere and complex narrative.
But Bell Works in real life is a much livelier place with a long, illustrious history that goes far beyond the glamor of Hollywood.
Before becoming a central character in the show, Bell Works was a corporate headquarters for scientific innovation. Bell Labs was home to thousands of scientists and engineers, including many Nobel prize winners who used the unique space to focus on groundbreaking research.
The “Severance” production team meticulously recreated the Bell Works aesthetic – from the building’s distinctive glass-enclosed façade and open atrium, spanning nearly a quarter of a mile, to its winding hallways and sunken lounges – on their own sets, ensuring a seamless transition between the real-life location and the fictional Lumon Industries.
“They loved the space. They loved the building,” said Moshe Gross, CEO of Reset Locations, a company that specializes in brokering filming locations. “They matched every little detail from this building on their sets.”
The building, designed by modernist architect Eero Saarinen, was acquired by the New Jersey-based real estate firm Inspired by Somerset Development in August 2013 and redeveloped into Bell Works, a mixed-use space combining technology and commercial offices, retail, dining, community events, hospitality and more.
The design of the building was updated by Paola Zamudio, CEO of npz studio+, the lead designer & creative director of Bell Works who worked closely with Alexander Gorlin on the redesign.
Gross explained that the building’s original design was intended to be more closed off, with long hallways and limited natural light, to encourage collaboration among the many scientists and engineers who thrived in that kind of work environment at the time. Through renovations and subtle design changes, Inspired reimagined Bell Works into a more vibrant, light-filled workspace, in line with modern office trends. This stands in stark contrast to the claustrophobic, corporate aesthetic of Lumon Industries in “Severance.”
Gross also noted that the decision to film at Bell Works was not a coincidence. The building’s management team, including Gross, actively courted film and television productions, recognizing the potential benefits of hosting high-profile projects. However, securing the building as a filming location for “Severance” was not a quick process. A production team first visited Bell Works in December 2019 and a lengthy negotiation process followed before a deal was finalized.
“We were close to signing a contract. We had a contract in front of them, and then COVID came out, and I had no clue when anything’s going to start again,” Gross recalled. The first season started filming in 2021 inside the building and in the parking lot.
The “Severance” production team returned to Bell Works in 2024 to film the second season. Gross said the team worked through the challenges of filming in a more active building – one not emptied by COVID – during the second season.
According to the film tax activity report published by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, “Severance” production spent over $5 million to film the first season and nearly $24 million for the second season. The show is eligible for an estimated $8.1 million in tax credits from the state’s film tax credit program, which offers eligible production companies up to a 35% transferrable tax credit on qualified film production expenses, plus an additional 2% or 4% diversity bonus for qualified productions.
The first season of the show, which was nominated for an Emmy for best drama series, debuted on Apple TV+ in February 2022 and the 10-episode second season premiered Jan. 17.
Ralph Zucker, CEO and founder of Inspired by Somerset Development, said the property has hosted seven TV shows, two feature films, and six commercials to date. He said the building management is exploring ways to further capitalize on the property’s cinematic appeal.
“There are a lot of incoming requests, and we are looking at ways to accommodate the public’s interest with tours and experiences,” he said.
To ensure that filming during office hours does not disrupt businesses in the building, Zucker explained that the management team takes a proactive approach to communication and security. For example, tenants are notified “via email several weeks in advance, providing key details about the production schedule,” he said. Management also shares general updates on social media to keep the public informed while maintaining discretion.
“From the very beginning, we envisioned the property as a dynamic space with strong cinematic appeal,” Zucker said. “Filmmaking was always part of the vision, and it’s been incredible to see that come to life.”
The article originally appeared in the March 6 – 12, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
