An iconic filming location in Stranger Things is reportedly being demolished amid claims of health and safety issues. Season 5 of the award-winning supernatural series is one of Netflix’s most anticipated shows, and it looks like the show is set to be its most emotional and tragic season yet. The streaming platform announced that production wrapped on Stranger Things season 5 in late December 2024, and now that fans know the release date for its final season, the Duffer brothers previously revealed that they are ahead of schedule, which was a massive sigh of relief for impatient fans.

Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, who also directed the 2015 horror film Hidden, and have written episodes for Wayward Pines. Stranger Things quickly became one of Netflix's most popular shows, with its fourth season becoming the most-watched English TV series in the first four weeks of its release. The show's fifth and final season will be set in the autumn of 1987, as the focus will be on the final battle against Vecna, with Hawkins under military quarantine. Thankfully, fans of previous Stranger Things installments will get to enjoy the return of its main cast for its emotional final season, which includes Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers.

Joyce Byers and Murray trying to solve a mystery in Stranger Things
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Stranger Things’ Hawkins National Lab Reportedly Being Demolished Due To Serious Health Issues

Hopper with a gun aimed at a security guard in Hawkins Lab

According to a Reddit post, the Hawkins lab, which served as a key location in Stranger Things’ first two seasons, is reportedly being torn down because of health and safety problems. In the post, which talks about the iconic lab being demolished, some of the comments from people in the apparent know stated that the building proved to have many serious health concerns that included asbestos, something that later needed to be removed, and that Emory University (who published it in 1988) "no longer uses it for offices or storage due to maintenance and safety challenges."

"Though iconic, the building has been largely vacant for years, and its architecture and systems—HVAC, ventilation, asbestos removal—are outdated and in disrepair. Emory no longer uses it for offices or storage due to maintenance and safety challenges. Renovating it would require extensive (and expensive) remediation."

Although this is hearsay at present, and no official announcement has been released about the condition of the previous Mental Health Institute, which operated from 1965 to 1997, if true, it sure sounds like a fairly ghastly place to be. Since its closure, the building has been used for filming productions, and along with filming the exterior of the building, Stranger Things also saw quite a few in-building shooting scenes, too, which leaves people to wonder if the health concerns were ongoing then as well. In August 2022, it was reported that the building would be demolished and that a senior residence would take its place.

Another comment under the Reddit post stated that they had "worked on shows in there. That building was the absolute worst." When asked by another fan of Stranger Things to elaborate further, the commenter said, "The building sucked. Asbestos, black mold, unsafe. It’s a great location for film though, in that it looks really good on film. It was probably a case of “tear it down before it falls down.” Earlier this year, it was reported that another beloved Stranger Things building would become dust. Hawkins High School, which served as a well-known location throughout the show, was torn down to make way for a new building.

The final Season 5 of Stranger Things is set to premiere in three parts between November 26th and December 25th, with the finale releasing on December 31st.

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Release Date
2016 - 2025-00-00
Network
Netflix
Showrunner
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
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  • instar50309536.jpg
    Millie Bobby Brown
    Jane 'Eleven' Hopper
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    Finn Wolfhard
    Mike Wheeler

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming
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Directors
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz
Writers
Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
Creator(s)
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

Source: Reddit