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We investigate strictly developable simple complexes of groups with arbitrary local groups, or equivalently, group actions admitting a strict fundamental domain. We introduce a new method for computing the cohomology of such groups. We also generalise Bestvina's construction to obtain a polyhedral complex equivariantly homotopy equivalent to the standard development of the lowest possible dimension. As applications, for a group acting chamber transitively on a building of type $(W,S)$, we show that its Bredon cohomological dimension is equal to the virtual cohomological dimension of $W$ and give a realisation of the building of the lowest possible dimension. We introduce the notion of a reflection-like action, and use it to give a new family of counterexamples to the strong form of Brown's conjecture on the equality of virtual cohomological dimension and Bredon cohomological dimension for proper actions. We show that the fundamental group $G$ of a simple complex of groups acts on a tree with stabilisers generating a family of subgroups $\mathcal{F}$ if and only if its Bredon cohomological dimension with respect to $\mathcal{F}$ is at most one. This confirms a folklore conjecture under the assumption that a model for the classifying space $E_{\mathcal{F}}G$ of $G$ for the family $\mathcal{F}$ has a strict fundamental domain. In order to handle complexes of groups arising from arbitrary group actions, we define a number of combinatorial invariants such as the block poset, which may be of independent interest. We also derive a general formula for Bredon cohomological dimension for a group $G$ admitting a cocompact model for $E_{\mathcal{F}}G$. As a consequence of both, we obtain a simple formula for proper cohomological dimension of $\mathrm{CAT}(0)$ groups whose actions admit a strict fundamental domain., Comment: 33 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, final version accepted for publication

We introduce graphical complexes of groups, which can be thought of as a generalisation of Coxeter systems with 1-dimensional nerves. We show that these complexes are strictly developable, and we equip the resulting Basic Construction with three structures of non-positive curvature: piecewise linear CAT(0), C(6) graphical small cancellation, and a systolic one. We then use these structures to establish various properties of the fundamental groups of these complexes, such as biautomaticity and Tits Alternative. We isolate an easily checkable condition implying hyperbolicity of the fundamental groups, and we construct some non-hyperbolic examples. We also briefly discuss a parallel theory of C(4)-T(4) graphical complexes of groups and outline their basic properties., Comment: 24 pages, 3 figures

Given a non-decreasing function $f \colon \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}$ we define a single player game on (infinite) connected graphs that we call fire retaining. If a graph $G$ admits a winning strategy for any initial configuration (initial fire) then we say that $G$ has the $f$-retaining property; in this case if $f$ is a polynomial of degree $d$, we say that $G$ has the polynomial retaining property of degree $d$. We prove that having the polynomial retaining property of degree $d$ is a quasi-isometry invariant in the class of uniformly locally finite connected graphs. Henceforth, the retaining property defines a quasi-isometric invariant of finitely generated groups. We prove that if a finitely generated group $G$ splits over a quasi-isometrically embedded subgroup of polynomial growth of degree $d$, then $G$ has polynomial retaining property of degree $d-1$. Some connections to other work on quasi-isometry invariants of finitely generated groups are discussed and some questions are raised., Comment: V2: Version accepted for publication by Geometriae Dedicata

We study the structure of the commensurator of a virtually abelian subgroup $H$ in $G$, where $G$ acts properly on a $\mathrm{CAT}(0)$ space $X$. When $X$ is a Hadamard manifold and $H$ is semisimple, we show that the commensurator of $H$ coincides with the normalizer of a finite index subgroup of $H$. When $X$ is a $\mathrm{CAT}(0)$ cube complex or a thick Euclidean building and the action of $G$ is cellular, we show that the commensurator of $H$ is an ascending union of normalizers of finite index subgroups of $H$. We explore several special cases where the results can be strengthened and we discuss a few examples showing the necessity of various assumptions. Finally, we present some applications to the constructions of classifying spaces with virtually abelian stabilizers., Comment: 20 pages

Given a discrete group $G$, for any integer $r\geqslant0$ we consider the family of all virtually abelian subgroups of $G$ of rank at most $r$. We give an upper bound for the Bredon cohomological dimension of $G$ for this family for a certain class of groups acting on $\mathrm{CAT}(0)$ spaces. This covers the case of Coxeter groups, Right-angled Artin groups, fundamental groups of special cube complexes and graph products of finite groups. Our construction partially answers a question of J.-F. Lafont., Comment: 11 pages

We consider a strictly developable simple complex of finite groups $G(\mathcal Q)$. We show that Bestvina's construction for Coxeter groups applies in this more general setting to produce a complex that is equivariantly homotopy equivalent to the standard development. When $G(\mathcal Q)$ is non-positively curved, this implies that the Bestvina complex is a cocompact classifying space for proper actions of $G$ of minimal dimension. As an application, we show that for groups that act properly and chamber transitively on a building of type $(W, S)$, the dimension of the associated Bestvina complex is the virtual cohomological dimension of $W$. We give further examples and applications in the context of Coxeter groups, graph products of finite groups, locally $6$-large complexes of groups and groups of rational cohomological dimension at most one. Our calculations indicate that, because of its minimal cell structure, the Bestvina complex is well-suited for cohomological computations., Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures. In Theorem 1.2 the assumption that the action on the building is minimal is removed as it always holds. This is shown in Lemma 5.1

Given a group $G$ with bounded torsion that acts properly on a systolic complex, we show that every solvable subgroup of $G$ is finitely generated and virtually abelian of rank at most $2$. In particular this gives a new proof of the above theorem for systolic groups. The main tools used in the proof are the Product Decomposition Theorem and the Flat Torus Theorem., Comment: 7 pages

Given a group $G$ acting geometrically on a systolic complex $X$ and a hyperbolic isometry $h \in G$, we study the associated action of $h$ on the systolic boundary $\partial X$. We show that $h$ has a canonical pair of fixed points on the boundary and that it acts trivially on the boundary if and only if it is virtually central. The key tool that we use to study the action of $h$ on $\partial X$ is the notion of a $K$-displacement set of $h$, which generalises the classical minimal displacement set of $h$. We also prove that systolic complexes equipped with a geometric action of a group are almost extendable., Comment: 34 pages, 4 figures

We determine the large scale geometry of the minimal displacement set of a hyperbolic isometry of a systolic complex. As a consequence, we describe the centraliser of such an isometry in a systolic group. Using these results, we construct a low-dimensional classifying space for the family of virtually cyclic subgroups of a group acting properly on a systolic complex. Its dimension coincides with the topological dimension of the complex if the latter is at least four. We show that graphical small cancellation complexes are classifying spaces for proper actions and that the groups acting on them properly admit three-dimensional classifying spaces with virtually cyclic stabilisers. This is achieved by constructing a systolic complex equivariantly homotopy equivalent to a graphical small cancellation complex. On the way we develop a systematic approach to graphical small cancellation complexes. Finally, we construct low-dimensional models for the family of virtually abelian subgroups for systolic, graphical small cancellation, and some CAT(0) groups., Comment: Second version: 60 pages, 16 figures, new proof of Proposition 4.6, minor corrections in proofs in Sections 4 and 6, this version contains more (expository) material than the version accepted by Groups, Geometry and Dynamics

We study $k$-systolic complexes introduced by T. Januszkiewicz and J. \'{S}wi\k{a}tkowski, which are simply connected simplicial complexes of simplicial nonpositive curvature. Using techniques of filling diagrams we prove that for $k \geq 7$ the $1$-skeleton of a $k$-systolic complex is Gromov hyperbolic. We give an elementary proof of the so-called Projection Lemma, which implies contractibility of $6$-systolic complexes. We also present a new proof of the fact that an infinite group acting geometrically on a $6$-systolic complex is not torsion., Comment: Version 3, 27 pages, 10 figures. Major revision. Proof of Theorem 1.2 corrected, proof of Theorem 4.3 simplified, a reference to an alternative proof of Theorem 7.4 added. Several definitions and lemmas adjusted and few typos removed. Language and exposition improved. Version very similar to the published version