Abstract: A multilevel semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) structure including a first interconnect level including a layer of dielectric material over a semiconductor substrate, the layer of dielectric material comprising a dense material for passivating semiconductor devices and local interconnects underneath; multiple interconnect layers of dielectric material formed above the layer of dense dielectric material, each layer of dielectric material including at least a layer of low-k dielectric material; and, a set of stacked via-studs in the low-k dielectric material layers, each of said set of stacked via studs interconnecting one or more patterned conductive structures, a conductive structure including a cantilever formed in the low-k dielectric material.