The New Year Pavilion and Sound Dragon are a shade structure and interactive sound sculpture at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center that integrate traditional Chinese architecture with contemporary detailing and digital technologies. The pavilion was designed and built by 18 architecture students over 4 months and incorporates a “Sound Dragon” sculpture that carries sounds of water from the adjacent waterfall to the pavilion and users. A zodiac calendar of animals carved in Kansas limestone at the center of the pavilion is used for interactive programming.

Architecture students worked with local Chinese community members to learn about the culture and history of pagoda-type pavilions. The design integrates traditional elements, such as dougong brackets and curved terra cotta roof, into the context of contemporary design and Topeka, Kansas. Students used digital modeling and fabrication to achieve the 6-sided curving form and mastered a range of fabrication and construction skills to complete the project. The project was dedicated on the Chinese New Year - February 1st, 2022.