Founder and Publisher Tem Horwitz Named Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur by President of France

Cloud Hands Press is very excited to share the news that our Founder and Publisher Tem Horwitz was recently named a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur by President Emmanuel Macron of the Republic of France. He was recognized with the highest French order of merit for his contributions to scientific cooperation between Chicago and France and for his exceptional work in innovative real estate development. He was presented this award at the Consul General of France Mr. Yannick Tagand’s residence in Chicago on Friday, September 23.

“I’m deeply honored to receive this recognition,” Horwitz said. “We face unprecedented challenges today such as climate change, pandemics and providing innovative services to a growing and compromised population. Scientific research is absolutely essential to devising solutions to these problems. Science, innovation, and compassion are needed for the future of humanity as well as international cooperation to bring us closer together in seeking cooperative, problem-solving approaches to healing our world. The FACCTS program is at the forefront of this effort, and I’m glad to have founded the Confreres Initiative to contribute.”

(LEFT photo): Tem Horwitz (right) was presented with a medal indicating his Chevalier status from French Consul General Yannick Tagand (left) at his official residence in Chicago. (RIGHT photo): Dr. Robert Morrissey (right), the Benjamin Franklin Professor of French Literature at the University of Chicago and Executive Director of the France Chicago Center, was among the guests at the award ceremony.

After earning a master's degree in Intellectual History from Columbia University, Horwitz moved to Chicago and became a member of the city’s vibrant art scene. He began his involvement in real estate by founding Horwitz & Co., which prioritizes creative and efficient urban development as well as fostering a sense of community through innovative design. He then founded Cloud Hands Press to publish an updated version of this classic and other works related to Tai Chi Ch’uan and Taoism.

A veteran of Chicago's rough-and-tumble real estate world, Horwitz is renowned for his pioneering approach to development, and was the first in the city to renovate old loft buildings for FORTUNE 100 companies. Horwitz’s notable developments include Institute Place Lofts, Clybourn Lofts, 420 N Wabash, City Commons, Larrabee Commons, 1800 Clybourn Washington Square, Camp Madron and 116 South Michigan Avenue, among others. These projects have won numerous awards both locally and internationally.

Horwitz conceived and launched the Confrères Initiative, recruiting a select group of sponsors to support cutting-edge projects with researchers at the University of Chicago who are part of the France and Chicago Collaborating in the Sciences (FACCTS) program at the France Chicago Center. During the 15 years that FACCTS has been in existence, almost $3 million dollars have been awarded to 186 different projects, fostering links between Chicago scientists and partner teams in 86 institutions in France, generating 400 joint publications, and sponsoring preliminary data that has led to more the $30 million in subsequent federal and European funding. The Confrères Initiative is open to additional members – appropriately called ‘Confrères’ –individuals as well as families who are willing to underwrite the trailblazing collaborative research made possible through FACCTS.

The France Chicago Center (FCC), which manages the FACCTS program, is a University of Chicago-based interdisciplinary organization that facilitates, promotes, and fosters stronger ties between University of Chicago students and researchers and their colleagues in France, while increasing awareness within the University of Chicago community of French culture, art, and thought. To that end, FCC organizes a range of activities—conferences, workshops, public lectures, concerts, art exhibits, seed—and supports a wide array of opportunities for students (fellowships, research & language study travel grants, internship support grants) and faculty (seed-funding, project grants).

ABOUT HORWITZ & CO., INCORPORATED

Through more than 35 years in real estate development, Horwitz & Co. has operated according to the principles of limitless imagination and innovation. The company has set the tone with award-winning lofts, townhouses, creative spaces, restaurants and retail spaces created in collaboration with some of the nation’s best architects and builders, including Daniel Wheeler, Helmut Jahn, Ken Schroeder, and the firm of Holabird and Root. For detailed information, please visit: www.horwitzcompany.com