Practicing collaboratively as MAde studio, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning, Maria Arquero and Assistant Professor of Architecture, Jen Maigret were awarded a 2013 Michigan AIA Honor Award in the category of Unbuilt Work for their design of playgrounds for the public schools of Detroit. A Dozen Playgrounds, sponsored by the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning Research on the City Program, and developed in consultation with R. Charles Dershimer, Assistant Clinical Professor in Educational Studies, proposes to recuperate playgrounds as space for children, central to the living fabric of the city. The American Institute of Architects and AIA Michigan has a long tradition of recognizing individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements in support of the profession of architecture and the awards programs are carefully structured so that selection and recognition of winners serve two distinct purposes: one directed to the profession, and the other to the public. A Dozen Playgrounds was one of three unbuilt Honor awards and was recognized by the jury as "A beautifully visioned series of places for children, each with its unique expression and each conceived as a sculptural whole."

The design team for A Dozen Playgrounds, an interdisciplinary mix of MArch and MUP students and recent graduates, includes Maria Capota, Caileigh MacKellar, and Andrew Wolking and research assistants include Chris Bennett, Cara Ciaglo, Leigh Davis, Joseph Fillippeli, Zachary Gong, Jordan Johnson, Justin Meyer, John Monnat, Yt Oh, Jose Alejandro Perez, Anna Schaefferkoetter, Catherine Truong and Wen Zhong.