Actually I can see exactly why they thought that way in 1966. Bright, shiny and new versus old wouldn't have been too much of a decision I would think.
Love today's pic. It looks so forbidding and impressive. FCP might have looked even better had they left it black, as the upper portion in the photo. My kind of architecture, these massive modernist behemoths. So much architecture these days just looks pansified in comparison.
I was terrbily concerned when I heard FCP was being re-clad in glass. I hope it turns out better than it sounds.