They have been doing weekend road closures for months to assemble that scaffolding. Once it's assembled fully (almost there now), it will proceed up the building to install the cladding.
Also - City Council voted on a confidential attachment related to the requested height increase here yesterday. We have to wait for it to be released, but it is believed to be a settlement approving the height increase.
The local councillor toured the building this week in advance of the vote, which suggests the developer is happy with the result.